On Thursday, President Bola Tinubu issued a directive to Service Chiefs and the heads of security and intelligence organizations stating that his administration would not accept any involvement in oil theft.
The President added that, in his opinion, Nigeria shouldn’t fall to her knees because of security issues when other nations are working hard, progressing, and making great strides.
This was said by President Tinubu during his first official meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja with the heads of security and intelligence, who were accompanied by General Lucky Irabor, the Chief of Defence Staff.
The National Security Advisor, NSA, Major Gen. Bafana Monguno (retd), informed State House reporters during the two-hour meeting that the President had instructed chiefs of security services to release their plans.
He claimed it was an evaluation meeting where the President would learn about the actions of the various security formations and share his own attitude and expectations with the security heads.
“The President and Commander in Chief of the armed forces has just completed a meeting of the general security appraisal committee consisting of the Chief of Staff service chiefs Inspector General of Police, and heads of the intelligence agencies,” he added.
He has never before met with the leaders of the security agencies. The two-hour meeting took place.
“After being briefed by the meeting’s attendees, Mr. President addressed the current security challenges facing the country and also stated his personal approach to handling such concerns.
“First and foremost, he expressed his gratitude to the military, intelligence services, and other paramilitary organizations for the work they have done over the previous few years. He also paid tribute to those who lost their lives protecting this nation from the tremendous threat of terrorism, insurgency banditry, oil theft, sea robbery, piracy, etc.
“The President has made it very plain that he is committed to build on whatever progress has been made, to turn the tide in our favor, and to undo setbacks.
He believes that this nation shouldn’t be floundering while other nations are thriving and rising to greater heights.
President Tinubu stressed that his own ideology is one of modern security measures dealing with the needs of the present in saying that he needs the security services to step up their efforts in bringing the country forward.
He has made it obvious that he won’t allow a situation in which our fortunes continue to decline, the NSA claims. His personal trajectory is that there must be a clearinghouse, a basket system, or whatever is necessary to coordinate national security.
“Every agency must collaborate to accomplish a common goal. He will not support working against one another or colliding with one another. He has made it quite apparent that all security services must abide by the requirements for coordination, frequent consultations, and timely reports that must be taken action upon.
He plans to make significant changes to our security architecture and examine more closely at our marine catastrophes, focusing in especially on the subject of oil theft, which, in his opinion, will not be tolerated. Any source of the issue must be eliminated as quickly as feasible.
According to what he knows, he has already ordered the security services to create a blueprint, and he doesn’t believe he has the luxury of time. And whatever adjustments are necessary, they must be made as soon as feasible.
The President has also decided that such operatives must accompany the armed forces on any missions they undertake in the theater. They must be properly nourished, outfitted, encouraged, and provided all they need.
“The President has made it clear that he will do everything in his power to support the operational elements, but the intelligence agencies must also make their job easier by supplying the kind of intelligence they need to complete the assignment.”