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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appears to be leaving nothing to chance towards the conduct of free, fair, credible and acceptable general elections in 2027. The president’s recent directive to security chiefs to dismantle terrorist and bandit camps, rescue abducted Nigerians, and strengthen security ahead of the January polls lends credence to this assertion. The directive is also an ample demonstration of the Tinubu administration‘s resolve and oft-pledges for the success of the upcoming elections.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), made the disclosure last week while briefing State House correspondents after a security meeting presided over by President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. At the meeting, convened to brief the president on the security situation across the country and review preparations ahead of the elections, heads of security agencies were also ordered to ensure a safe and secure environment for Nigerians to participate freely in the general elections
According to the minister, all heads of security agencies attended the meeting, during which Tinubu emphasised the need for a free, fair and credible electoral process. “Mr President made it very clear he wants a free, fair, and credible election. We must do everything possible to ensure that the country is safe and secure for the citizens to go out and vote,” Musa said.
The defence minister assured Nigerians that security personnel would remain neutral during the elections and would not allow political actors or voters to be intimidated. He said all political parties would be given the opportunity to participate in the electoral process without fear of harassment or intimidation. Musa urged political parties and their supporters to understand that security agencies would carry out their responsibilities impartially. He also called on Nigerians to cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that could help prevent crime and improve public safety.
The minister said the president had also directed security agencies to intensify operations to rescue abducted persons and dismantle the camps of terrorists and bandits operating across the country. According to him, the directive requires security agencies to work towards locating and rescuing all kidnapped victims, regardless of where they are being held. “The directive from the president is: all of us must go all out to fish out and rescue all those that have been abducted, kidnapped wherever they are. There shouldn’t be any camp of any terrorists or bandits anywhere in Nigeria,” he said.
Musa also dismissed suggestions that underage persons were being recruited into the Nigerian Armed Forces, explaining that concerns raised about children being used in armed activities related to terrorists were misplaced. He said the government remained committed to confronting armed groups and preventing them from maintaining operational bases in the country.
On efforts to strengthen the country’s security capacity, Musa said the government was increasing recruitment, training and equipment procurement for the armed forces. He disclosed that President Tinubu would soon commission about 10 newly acquired aircraft and helicopters as part of efforts to improve military operations. The minister said the planned commissioning demonstrated the administration’s continued attention to security despite the country’s economic challenges.
Musa also referred to the recent salary increase for members of the armed forces, adding that measures to improve the welfare of police personnel, other security agencies and pensioners were being addressed. He assured Nigerians that the government intended to ensure that personnel responsible for protecting the country received improved welfare support. Musa reiterated that security was a collective responsibility and urged citizens to report criminal activities and misconduct by security personnel. He said complaints about wrongdoing by security officers should be reported to the appropriate authorities, assuring Nigerians that necessary action would be taken.
Instructively, the defence minister had, shortly after the president’s meeting with the heads of security agencies, said that the European Union is set to provide €20 million in defence assistance to Nigeria to support the armed forces in tackling insecurity. The minister said the assistance would be provided under the European Peace Facility, adding that an EU technical delegation would visit Abuja in November to agree on the modalities for its delivery.
Blueprint views President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment towards ensuring a safe environment that would enable every eligible Nigerian to participate in next year’s general elections as quite laudable. The move, which has the tendency to guard against the disenfranchisement of some citizens, particularly those in the epicentres of banditry and terrorism (North-west, North-east, and North-central), is an incontrovertible evidence of the president’s enviable democratic credentials.
Having issued the directive, it now behoves the heads of security agencies to walk the talk. The dismantling of terrorist and bandit camps before the January 16, 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections, less than three months from now, may be an uphill task. But with all hands on deck and the support from the international community, such as the grant of €20 million by the European Union, Nigerians should rest assured that insecurity will soon be a thing of the past across the country even beyond the 2027 elections period.
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