Buhari Reviews Jonathan’s National Security Strategy To Tackle Terrorism, Banditry, Others

The President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government on Monday reviewed the National Security Strategy (NSS) to find lasting solutions to the myriad of problems facing the country.

Some of the security challenges being faced by the country include, terrorism, kidnapping, armed banditry, militancy pastoralists- farmers conflicts and other forms of security threats. 

It would be recalled that Nigeria’s first National Security Strategy was conceived in November 2014 under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and the purpose is to guide, organize and harmonize the nation’s security policies and efforts. 

In his keynote address, National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) at a one day stakeholders workshop for the “Sensitization Session of the National Security Strategy 2019” organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) on Monday in Abuja, said the document highlights in broad terms the geostrategic environment that encompasses our internal threats as well as the corresponding strategies to deal with them.

Monguno noted that the success of a nation is determined by the ability of the government to guide its affairs through planning for review of the past, managing contemporary issues and articulating for the future.

Represented by the Director, Policy and Strategy, Office of the National Security Adviser,  Aminu Lawwal said most of the contemporary threats identified in the 2014 documents are still potent, adding that some of the threats now are the fast developing cyberspace environment and advances in technology notably drone technology.

Monguno maintained that this strategy underscored the need to address the socio-economic concerns, which this present administration key into, include corruption, which breeds poverty and unemployment ; insecurity and the diversification of the economy.

“It was against this background that the National Security Strategy (NSS) was conceived in 2014 and the document was formulated to contend with these challenges. 

“In addition to focusing on the effectiveness of security providers, it incorporates several key issues as a way of ensuring their relevance, public legitimacy, ownership, and sustainability, as well as facilitating their implementation while improving the efficiency of how security is provided. 

“In this regard, the new notion of National Security under this administration places emphasis on the ‘people’ as the referent object and not the ‘state’, aimed at enhancing the social-well being of the citizenry.

“To this end, it is imperative to continuously assess the current and future threat environment and develop appropriate resilience and capacity to mitigate these challenges, ” Monguno added.

Chairman Review Committee, Ambassador Olayiwola Lasehinde said the workshop is to look for solutions that would help government in tackling the rising cases of insecurity in some states particularly kidnapping and armed banditry.