Victor EzejaPresident Bola Tinubu has charged heads of security agencies to step up efforts to progressively bring down all rampaging criminal elements, stressing that the $1 trillion economy target will be undermined if pockets of insecurity in parts of the country are not adequately tackled.
The president, who gave the charge while addressing security chiefs and heads of intelligence agencies at a Presidential Security Briefing at the State House, in Abuja, on Friday, said while good progress is being made with the elimination of some security threats across multiple theatres, success will ultimately be defined when the multi-dimensional threat are conclusively degraded.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu was quoted as saying: “We have too many investments that we need to make now in soft and physical infrastructure, in social security, in MSME empowerment, and other growth enablers.”
“We are pursuing a $1 trillion economy in the next few years, and our efforts will be undermined if we do not finally wrap up our progressive onslaught against enemies of progress. Be encouraged. The confidence of our people in your capacity is rising, and they are appreciative of the sacrifices of our men and women,” Tinubu said.
While acknowledging successes being recorded by security agencies in war against enemies of the country, Tinubu warned that avoidable errors, as witnessed recently in Kaduna State, where harmless citizens were mistakenly bombed were unacceptable and cannot be repeated.
“I am pleased that coordination between all agencies has dramatically improved over recent months, but there is no room for celebrations until we can end this; until we can bring our troops back to their own localities, and until we can free up resources for our critical economic expansion programme,” the President firmly stated.
Concerns about Oil Theft
On the concerns about oil theft which has stagnated oil production output over the years, the Nigerian leader stressed that the armed forces must deliver on his objective to ensure the nation achieves a sustainable production of two million barrels of crude oil per day, including condensates, within the first quarter of 2024.
He charged the Navy and other sister agencies to step up their game for the benefit of all Nigerians.
“I do not play with my intelligence reports. I have multiple lines of sight. The Navy and sister branches must step up their game to achieve our aims for the benefit of all Nigerians. All malign actors will be aggressively uprooted from our midst. Those working against the national agenda from within and without will meet justice. Your task is clear. We will sustain our momentum. Failure is not an option under my leadership,” the President warned.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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