President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, March 18, met with Nigeria’s service chiefs, led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Also present at the high-level meeting were Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, and Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) Oluwatosin Ajayi.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele later joined the discussions in the president’s office. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and his deputy, Ben Kalu, were also in attendance.
While the agenda was not disclosed, the meeting is believed to be connected to Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges.
Escalating Security Threats in Nigeria
Nigeria has been grappling with persistent security issues, including Boko Haram insurgency, militancy, armed robbery, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and clashes between Fulani herders and farmers.
Bandits frequently raid villages and carry out mass kidnappings in the northwest and north-central regions, displacing nearly a million people, according to the United Nations. Authorities have struggled to contain the rising violence, putting additional pressure on President Tinubu’s administration.
A new armed group known as Lakurawa has recently emerged, launching attacks in northwestern Nigeria and neighboring Niger. In November 2024, the Nigerian Army officially acknowledged the group’s existence, stating that its members operate from bases in Sokoto and Kebbi states.
NSA Nuhu Ribadu has warned the terrorists that their time is running out. Speaking at the Comptroller General of Customs Conference in Abuja, he declared that the government would not tolerate any threats under President Tinubu’s leadership.
Tinubu’s Diplomatic Moves: Meeting With China’s Xi Jinping
Meanwhile, President Tinubu recently met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to strengthen bilateral ties. Sources within the presidency disclosed that the discussions would lead to the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on cooperation in key sectors such as the green economy, agriculture, satellite technology, and blue economic development.
