President Bola Tinubu has advised Service Chiefs and heads of security and intelligence agencies that colluding would no longer be tolerated.
Tinubu revealed this at his first formal meeting with security and intelligence leaders led by Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the President has directed that anybody implicated in oil theft be prosecuted, stating that his government would not accept such a threat.
The President further stated that, in his opinion, Nigeria should not be brought to its knees as a consequence of security difficulties, while other nations are working, progressing, and making amazing successes.
Briefing State House media following the two-hour meeting, National Security Adviser, major Gen. Bafana Monguno (retd), said the President has asked chiefs of security services to provide their blueprints.
He stated that the meeting was for the President to be briefed on the actions of the various security formations and for him to explain his own perspective and what he wants from the security chiefs.
“The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces has just concluded a meeting of the general security appraisal committee, which includes the Chief of Staff, service chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, and heads of intelligence agencies,” he stated.
“This is his first meeting with the heads of the security agencies.” The meeting was two hours long.
“After being briefed by the meeting participants Mr. President addressed current issues confronting the nation in terms of insecurity, as well as his own philosophy for dealing with national security issues.”
“First and foremost, he praised the armed forces, intelligence agencies, and other paramilitary organizations for the work they have done in recent years.” He also paid respect to those who perished protecting this country from the huge threat of terrorism, insurgent banditry, oil theft, sea robbery, piracy and so on.
“The President has made it abundantly clear that he is determined to build on whatever gains have been made, to reverse misfortunes, and to turn the tide in our favor.”
“In his opinion, this country should not be on its knees struggling while other countries work and achieve greater heights.”
President Tinubu stated that in order to move the country ahead, he requires the security agencies to redouble their efforts, emphasizing that his own ideology is one of modern security measures that address the demands of the present.
According to the NSA, “He has made it very clear that he will not accept a situation in which our fortunes keep declining. And his vision is that national security has to be coordinated, there has to be whatever…whether it is a basket system, but there must be a clearing house.
“All agencies must work together to achieve a single goal.” Working against each other and clashing with each other is not something he will tolerate. He has made it quite obvious that all security services must comply with the needs of coordination, regular discussions, and timely reports that must be acted upon.
“He is going to embark on a lot of reforms in terms of our security architecture, he is going to take a closer look at our misfortunes in the maritime domain, focusing particularly on issues of oil theft, and he is not going to tolerate oil theft as far as he is concerned.” Whatever the source of the problem is, it must be eliminated as quickly as possible.
“The President has also decided that whatever ventures the armed forces undertake, those operatives must accompany them in the theater.” They must be fed, outfitted, motivated and provided with all they require.
“The President has stated unequivocally that he will do everything in his power to enable the operational elements, but intelligence agencies must also make their work easier by providing the type of intelligence required to carry out the assignment.”
