Buhari summon security chiefs ahead of UK summit trip
There was a closed-door meeting between President Buhari and the security agencies at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday. The meeting main purpose of the meeting is connected to the Presidents’ visit to London scheduled for today, to participate in the inaugural UK-Africa Investment Summit.
According to the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adeshina, in a statement on Thursday said the summit will open on Monday, January 20, and the President will be back in Nigeria next week Thursday after the summit.
Shortly after the meeting, the State House Correspondents, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar said the security Chiefs specifically briefed the President on steps taken to ensure that the security of lives and properties was not compromised.
He said, “you recall that we had a meeting on 30th December 2019 and today we held another one. The whole essence of the meeting is to critically evaluate what the armed forces of Nigeria, as well as other security and intelligence agencies, are doing with regard to ensuring that the territorial integrity of Nigeria is not undermined by any individual or group of individuals.”
According to Abubakar, the meeting also x-rayed the security situation in the North West with regards to arm banditry, and another menace in the other parts of the country.
He further hinted on the steps taken to dislodge the insurgents in the coming days, saying that the Nigeria Air Force had already assembled some of the fighter aircraft recently procured by the Federal Government to combat the onslaught against Boko Haram activities in the North East, Nigeria.
“What we want to do here is to reassure Nigerians that the armed forces of Nigeria and indeed security and intelligence agencies in Nigeria are going to continue to work round the clock to ensure that our country is secured and to ensure that nobody undermines the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Nigeria.
“We critically looked at everything and we are satisfied with the progress we are making, we are satisfied with the support of the Federal Government is giving the armed forces and other security agencies in terms of procurement of platforms, a substantial number of this equipment are expected by the end of February.
“Some of the equipment we are acquiring have started arriving for the Nigerian Air Force, two helicopter gunships have arrived on the 15th of January and we are now in the process of putting them together which will add to whatever we have.
“We are equally expecting other equipment like I said that is meant for the armed forces of Nigeria which we are hoping to get by the end of February. I am sure you are also familiar with the equipment acquisition by the Nigerian Police Force.
“I am sure you are also aware of the policy on Community Policing that was approved by Mr. President and it is going to be funded. The whole idea is to ensure that Nigeria is secured and Nigerians can go about pursuing their legitimate aspirations without any hindrance.
“We are going to keep a very close watch on what is going on and with the equipment that we are getting, definitely, the challenges we are facing in some of the theaters of operation, particularly the North East, will be addressed adequately.
“We are doing everything with the other sister countries in the Lake Chad Basin, working together to ensure that the Boko Haram terrorism is brought substantially to an end as quickly as possible.”
Abubakar also appealed to Nigerians and other stakeholders to support the armed forces of Nigeria and other security and intelligence agencies to ensure that the country is secured in line with the national policy and community policing policy that the Federal Government has approved.
“What we expect is for all stakeholders, local governments, state governments, other stakeholders to join hands with us, let us work together to ensure that our country is secured,” he added.
