Nigeria At 64: President Tinubu’s Path Towards Peace, National Security For Development

On October 1, 1960, Nigeria became an independent nation after years of British colonial rule.

The country’s independence followed the sacrifices of the founding fathers and nationalists whose struggles led to the attainment of self rule from the imperialists.

Nigeria’s path to independence is regarded as a significant milestone in African history, marking the path to political, social, economic and cultural transformation. It signified the beginning of self-governance in the most populated black nation on earth, empowering Nigerians to embrace their identity and heritage.

Over six decades after independence, Nigeria stands at a critical juncture in its history, confronted with the task of building a viable and developed nation that upholds democratic principles and values. The country has also faced critical socio-economic, cultural, political and security challenges since independence.

These challenges have continued to constitute a drag to the nation’s economic growth. Among these challenges, insecurity has created a debilitating effect on agriculture, rural development and decaying infrastructure that led to disruption that necessitated the demand for accelerated development.

Despite these challenges of development over the years, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his 15 months in office, has exemplified the abilities to provide the required leadership by engaging with various groups across critical sectors with focus on bridging governance gaps and showing commitment to transforming Nigeria into a country that works for all.

On assumption of office on 29th May, 2023, President Tinubu declared that his administration would give priority to national security.

The Tinubu administration has pursued this goal through multi-million dollar investments in modernized equipment for the nation’s security agencies to enable them to fight against banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other crimes.

The administration also designed a comprehensive strategy aimed at addressing the root causes of insecurity, including poverty, unemployment, and social inequality. The administration floated several socio-economic intervention programs to tackle poverty and reduce unemployment among the vulnerable citizens in the country.

The intervention of President Tinubu’s administration in the security sector led to the release of over 8000 victims of kidnapping in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Katsina, Taraba, Adamawa, and many other states while insisting on the zero policy on ransom payment.

Equally noteworthy is the strengthening of physical security across oil producing communities and increased security presence across vulnerable border communities in the determination to secure all parts of Nigeria.

Towards enhancing Nigeria’s capacity on counter terrorism, the Tinubu administration facilitated the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Nigeria and United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism that promotes cooperation in the fight against counter terrorism in the world.
These achievements were possible based on the Nigeria’s strategic partnerships with the international community to combat global terrorism and strengthen cooperation in countering terrorists travel, financing of terrorism, intensifying border and maritime security in line with the global counter terrorism strategy.

Re-echoing its determination to end insecurity in the country, the Nigerian leader has continued to adopt new techniques and used every opportunity to remind Nigerians that security remains the most priority agenda of his administration. Recently, the Nigerian government directed major reforms in national defence and internal security to ensure that cities, towns and states are well secured for investments opportunities from foreign partners.

These deliberate efforts are geared towards fostering peace across Nigerian communities, promoting good governance, protecting educational institutions and facilities across the country.

President Tinubu’s efforts at creating a secure nation will go a long way in improving the nation’s economy, boosting investors’ confidence as well as creating conducive investment environment while also protecting lives and property of the people.

Nigeria is witnessing a turning point in its security strategies, as the approaches being adopted by security forces, including rules of engagement to ensure peace and security are already beginning to yield results.

As Nigeria marks the 64th independence anniversary, the future appears promising and requires the bye-in of all stakeholders and other nations of the world for a better Nigeria.