President Bola Tinubu on Thursday met with service chiefs and heads of security agencies at the State House, Abuja, to review the country’s security situation ahead of the 2027 general election.
At the meeting, which lasted about five hours, Tinubu charged security chiefs to ensure a free, fair and credible election, while directing them to intensify efforts to rescue Nigerians held captive by kidnappers and other criminal groups.
The meeting was attended by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa; Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam; and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
Others present included the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Idi Abbas; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke; and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lieutenant-General Emmanuel Undiandeye.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed; Director-General of the Department of State Services, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi; and Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, Major-General Adeyinka Famadewa (retd.), also attended.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Musa said the security chiefs briefed the President on the country’s security situation ahead of the January 2027 polls.
He said Tinubu stressed the need to provide a safe environment for Nigerians to vote and assured political parties that security agencies would remain neutral throughout the electoral process.
Musa said: “We had an intensive discussion, and 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.
“And so, we want to assure Nigerians that we are committed. We are determined to ensure that we provide safety and security for all Nigerians.
“Everyone should come out and vote. Vote for whoever they want.”
The defence minister added that no political party or candidate would be allowed to intimidate opponents during the election.
“The President wants the atmosphere to be free, and it’s important for all other political parties to understand that the security forces are going to be neutral.
“We are going to ensure that we give everybody opportunity to go and serve, so they have nothing to worry about, nothing to be afraid of, and that nobody is going to intimidate them for whatever reasons,” he said.
Musa also disclosed that Tinubu had directed security agencies to intensify operations to locate and rescue people abducted across the country.
“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.
He said the military remained committed to tackling insecurity and urged Nigerians to report suspicious activities and misconduct by security personnel.
On allegations that underage soldiers were being recruited into military operations, Musa rejected claims that the Nigerian military was using underage personnel, arguing that the allegations concerned terrorist groups recruiting children.
“There is nobody that is underage that is being brought here. I think the discussion that was made was that the accusation was on the terrorists using the underage,” he said.
The minister further revealed that Tinubu would soon inaugurate about 10 newly acquired aircraft and helicopters to strengthen aerial surveillance and security operations.
He also said the President intended to extend the new salary structure to police officers, other paramilitary personnel and pensioners.
Musa urged Nigerians to support security agencies, stressing that maintaining peace and safety required the cooperation of everyone.
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