President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday inaugurated the reviewed National Security Strategy 2019 with a commitment to enhancing the social security of Nigerians as a means of improving their physical security.
Speaking at the event shortly before the commencement of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council, the president said the numerous security challenges confronting the nation made it necessary to come up with an articulated, comprehensive and coordinated response that involved all segments of the society.
He expressed delight that the National Security Strategy 2019 was a product of painstaking and rigorous deliberations by relevant stakeholders committed with the task of safeguarding the nation from internal and external threats.
According to him the strategy represents a thoughtful, strategic and practical expression of his administration’s resolve to make Nigeria safe for development, investment, growth and prosperity for everybody.
“As we continue to work towards completely ending insurgency in the northeast and laying the foundation of sustainable peace and development in the region, we are also addressing conflicts between farmers and herders, banditry and various forms of security challenges.
”In addition to security, economic diversification and fighting corruptions, our administration priorities for the second term include pursuing improvements in education, healthcare and agriculture.
”These priorities reflect our commitment to enhancing the social security of Nigerians as a means of improving their physical security.
”I’m happy to observe that the National Security Strategy reflects this thinking with emphasis on overall human security.
”I’m pleased also to know that the strategy emerged after a long time consultative and participatory process that elicited contributions primarily from our security, intelligence, law enforcement agencies and the armed forces,” he said.
The president further revealed that stakeholders such as ministries, department and agencies and the civil society were also contributory to this strategy, NAN reports.
According to President Buhari, security is about bottom to top operation, failure at any level will lead to a serious lapse in overall security.
He, therefore, called on all stakeholders including heads of ministries, departments and agencies to see themselves as partners in the onerous task of securing “our people and to demonstrate unity of purpose in implementing this strategy”.
The President also commended the National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno, and his team for delivering on the document.
He said: “The task that now lies before us is the execution of the strategy and the achievement of a safer and more secured nation. It is a task to which this administration remains fully and unreservedly committed.”
The highpoint of the event was the public presentation of the document on National Security by President Buhari.
Present at the launch of the document were members of the Federal Executive Council, Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu as well as Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and the Speaker House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The document is reviewed every five years.
