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• President meets security chiefs, IGP amid surge in attacks, summons FAAN DG again
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has approved the procurement of additional military equipment to boost the operations of the Nigerian Armed Forces in their sustained campaign against insurgency and terrorism nationwide.
Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents after a high-level security meeting in Abuja.
The session, attended by the service chiefs, provided a comprehensive update on the nation’s security landscape and recent operational successes.
According to Musa, the meeting allowed President Tinubu to receive firsthand accounts from the military hierarchy and to assess ongoing efforts to contain terrorists’ threats and related security challenges.
He acknowledged that while there have been sporadic attacks in recent weeks, security forces have continued to respond decisively.
“The armed forces have been doing tremendously well. Yes, there have been attacks, but our troops are responding and inflicting heavy losses on the terrorists,” he stated.
Musa explained that the direct briefing was necessary to offer the President a full picture of the situation, noting that, “sometimes, interpretations through the media do not always reflect the realities on the ground.”
He confirmed that troops have recorded significant gains in the past weeks.
“Some terrorist commanders have been killed and their assets have been taken over by the security forces,” he said.
While mourning the loss of some courageous officers and men in the line of duty, the Minister described their sacrifices as deeply regrettable but emphasised that morale remains high within the armed forces.
“The commitment of the Armed Forces remains strong in ensuring the safety and security of Nigerians.”
He urged citizens not to lose faith because of isolated attacks, stressing that the war against terrorism is ongoing and that the military remains resolute.
He also noted that terrorists often attempt to exploit the Ramadan period to mount attacks but said the armed forces have adjusted their strategies accordingly.
“With the President’s approval for more equipment and the continued collaboration among the various security agencies, the Armed Forces are confident of success in the ongoing operations,” the Minister affirmed.
He concluded by assuring Nigerians that the government and security agencies were united in their determination to defeat terrorism and restore lasting peace across the country.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu yesterday held a nearly two-hour closed-door meeting with the nation’s security chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, his first since the appointment of Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, against the backdrop of rising assaults on security personnel across Nigeria, particularly in the North East.
The service chiefs arrived discreetly, without their official escorts or vehicles, making identification difficult until their departure from the Villa’s forecourt.
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The session followed renewed security concerns triggered by the recent killing of several commanding officers and intensified attacks on military outposts.
At least three forward operations commanders have been lost in the past week amid escalating assaults by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in Born State.
Recent incidents include attacks on Ngoshe, Konduga, Marte, Jakana and Mainok, with reports of abductions and destruction of military facilities.
These developments prompted both President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima to reaffirm the government’s resolve to crush terrorist networks.
At an Iftar dinner with service chiefs on March 6, Tinubu insisted that Nigeria would not succumb to insurgency.
“Nigeria will defeat terrorism despite these attacks. We will not bow to insurgents,” the President had declared.
Likewise, Vice President Shettima, in a statement by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, vowed that the administration would end the insurgency with overwhelming force.
Yesterday’s meeting marked Disu’s first official briefing with the President and service chiefs following his appointment on February 28.
Although details of the discussions were not disclosed, findings linked it to the recent spike in attacks, security coordination and the protection of vulnerable communities.
In a separate development, President Tinubu also summoned the Director-General of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, for the second time in one week.
She was seen entering the Villa while the security meeting was still ongoing.
The fresh summons came barely days after the President suspended FAAN’s nationwide cashless tollgate payment system, citing widespread gridlocks that caused passengers to miss flights.
Last week, Kuku had first met with the President a few hours after the suspension was announced, arriving in company with the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, told journalists after the Federal Executive Council meeting that the President’s decision was driven by compassion and necessity.
“Mr. President was very concerned about the welfare of Nigerians and the fact that most Nigerians were missing their flights. So, Mr. President, out of empathy, directed today that we should suspend the present system because it creates a lot of gridlock,” Keyamo explained.
Tinubu had since asked the Aviation Ministry to work with private partners to design a more efficient hybrid payment structure, one that maintains cashless mechanisms, while allowing physical payments where needed.
FAAN, as the main operator of airport toll points nationwide, will anchor the revised system intended to reduce fraud and revenue leakages linked to manual collections.
