Tinubu Orders Service Chiefs to End Security Crisis, Promises Total Support

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged the newly appointed service chiefs to end Nigeria’s long-running security crisis, declaring that the country cannot continue to battle threats that have lingered since 2009.

Speaking at their decoration ceremony at the State House in Abuja on Thursday, Tinubu told the officers that their confirmation by the Senate and their appointment to lead the armed forces come with enormous responsibilities that must be carried out with “the highest standards of commitment and dedication.”

He said the event was not just a ceremonial decoration but the beginning of a renewed national effort to secure every part of Nigeria. “Security is an essential element without which everything else is rendered meaningless,” the president said. “There cannot be sufficient development if this fundamental aspect of human need is unmet.”

Tinubu commended the military for its sacrifices in defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity and for reclaiming areas once held by terrorists. “We have restored peace to many areas previously under siege, rescued countless kidnapped citizens, and significantly diminished the capacity of the terror groups,” he noted.

However, the president warned that the evolving nature of security threats requires a new approach, pointing to the rise of armed groups in the North-Central, North-West, and parts of the South. “We must not allow these new threats to fester,” he said. “We must be decisive and proactive. Let us smash the new snakes right in the head.”

Tinubu urged the service chiefs to be innovative, pre-emptive, and courageous in carrying out their duties. “Nigerians expect results, not excuses,” he said. “We cannot allow the crisis that began in 2009 to persist any longer.”

He assured the commanders of his full backing, promising that the government would provide all the resources and support they need to restore lasting peace across the country. “I wish you success as you take up the challenge,” Tinubu said. “May God continue to keep our armed forces safe.”