President Muhammadu Buhari has said that some of the security challenges confronting Nigeria are imported by foreign elements.
Buhari, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, stated this at the Graduation of Course 30 of the National Defence College (NDC) on Friday in Abuja.
He said that the nation and indeed the African region had been facing difficulties such as terrorism in the northeast, banditry and other criminal activities across the country.
He added that the military and other security agencies have been given directives to deal decisively with all forms of security challenges and secure the nation.
According to him, the military’s onslaught against terrorism in the northeast has resulted in the surrender of thousands of persons who are currently being managed by government agencies.
”Government is also deeply concerned about the activities of bandits and criminals who rear their ugly heads in some parts of the country.
”This is because the number of violent unprovoked attacks on citizens appears to be on the increase. This is unacceptable.
”Accordingly, we have given a strong directive to the military and other security agencies to deal decisively with terrorists, bandits, and other enemies of the country.
”We have also adopted bilateral and multilateral arrangements to tackle the trans-border and maritime crimes because we recognize that some of our security challenges are imported into Nigeria by foreign elements.
”I want to assure all Nigerians that the government is doing all it can to eliminate or apprehend the criminals or bandits, wherever they are,” he said.
Buhari commended the nation’s apex defence institution for its continuous effort to raise disciplined, professional, and strategic leaders for the armed forces, and security agencies as well as Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
He said the college had since its establishment 30 years ago, continued to fulfil its mandate and had grown to be at par with similar colleges across the world
He charged the participant to deploy the knowledge they had acquired in making useful suggestions toward addressing the challenges in their areas of responsibility.
The president assured that the government would remain committed to providing needed resources for the security agencies to carry out their assigned tasks.
The Commandant of NDC, Rear Adm. Murtala Bashir, said the college had 102 participants drawn from the military, paramilitary, security and intelligence agencies as well as selected MDAs and participants from 16 allied countries.
Bashir said the participants comprised 28 from Nigerian Army; 20 from the Nigerian Navy; five from Nigerian Air Force; 29 from strategic institutions/MDAs and 20 international participants.
He said the college had trained the finest from the military, security agencies, and MDAs both from within and outside the country since inception in 1992, adding that some had distinguished themselves in their careers.
According to him, the mission of NDC is to develop future strategic leaders who are sufficiently equipped with knowledge and skills.
”for participants of course 30, this mission was achieved through the pathway of study in nine modules comprising research methodology and strategic writing, state and social political environments, economy and finance, science and technology, international affairs, and regional studies.
”Others are policy strategy and national security, military history and conflict studies, peace support operations and higher defense management.
”The modules were delivered in forms of lectures, seminars, study tours, research papers, and studies under a broad theme, “ a Whole of Society Approach to Enhancing Human Security in Nigeria.”
”The course also involved exercises that stimulated real-life scenarios and the review of the National Defence and Security Policies,” he said.
A foreign participant, Commodore Ashwsni Tikoo of the Indian Navy, thanked the Nigerian government and the armed forces for giving them the opportunity to be a part of the course and learning experience of a lifetime.
Tikoo said the course had also afforded him the opportunity to make new friends that would help to shape his military career.
He said the scope of the curriculum was vast including economic development, social security, internal security, geostrategic issues among others.
”It has been a great learning experience and particularly for me I would say that my knowledge about the African continent has increased very considerably.
”And obviously, when you get to know so much about this continent, which has 54 countries, rich in resources and beautiful people, it is a great experience.
”I am sure that when I go back to my country with this kind of learning and experience, it is definitely going to enable me to bring in certain changes in my own country with the perspectives and the learnings that I have had here,” he said.