The meeting of Nigeria’s National Security Council ended with National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd) announcing that President Muhammadu Buhari is planning a complete re-engineering of the nation’s security apparatuses as he is dissatisfied with the worsening insecurity in the country.
The Council is statutorily empowered by the Constitution to advise the President on matters relating to public security including matters relating to any organisation or agency established by law for ensuring the security of the Federation.
General Monguno also said that President Buhari has again ordered the nation’s security chiefs to rejig their security strategy.
Monguno told journalists at the end of the National Security Council meeting that the President reaffirmed his last marching orders to the nation’s security chiefs that their best effort is not good enough.
Monguno revealed that since the issues involved are operational issues, the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, “is working on something” likely to give a new direction to the security agencies.
The NSA also disclosed that the council noted that proliferation of drugs is driving insecurity in the country.
Monguno said the manner of killings of their victims could only mean one thing, which is that the bandits, kidnappers and terrorists are out of their minds.
He said President Buhari noted that Nigerians have lost confidence in the security sector and that he is determined to restore that confidence.
The meeting, presided by President Buhari was attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff (Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai), Chief of Naval Staff (Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas) and Chief of Air Staff (Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar).
Others include Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, Director General of Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, Director General, National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ahmed Rufa’I and the Chief of Defence Intelligence.
Also in attendance were Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd).
Ministers also attending the meeting include Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi; Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammad Dingyadi and Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada.