By Seun Adams
President Muhammadu Buhari, has said the country made progress in the fight against insecurity, but admitted that the nation is still battling with some existential and fundamental challenges.
He said, Boko Haram, having lost their insurgency campaign, has become factionalised and mutated into a new form of terrorist threat.
“Armed banditry and vandalism, kidnapping, pastoralists/farmers conflicts, cultism and political violence have become the new threats. Other issues such as proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons, drug trafficking, drug and substance abuse and communal conflict, all add up to the security mix.
According to Buhari, the Nigerian military in collaboration with armed forces of neighbouring countries have made tremendous progress in the war against insurgency since the inception of his administration.
Reflecting at the graduation ceremony of Course 27 at the National Defence College (NDC) in Abuja on Friday, Buhari said, Boko Haram, having lost their insurgency campaign and has become degraded.
The occasion, the president said affords him another opportunity to reflect on the state of the nation, particularly regarding national security, explaining that at the inception of his administration first tenure in 2015, Nigeria was at a critical crossroad.
He said: “The Boko Haram group was at the height of its infamy and virtually held Nigeria hostage. It constituted a clear and present danger to our corporate existence as a nation.
“After 4 years of grueling work, I can report the progress that we have made in tackling the security challenges, with the combined efforts of our regional coalition partners, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies, diverse government agencies, national and international development partners as well as traditional leaders.
“We have spared no effort to rid the nation of terrorism and insurgency and associated national security and humanitarian challenges. I particularly thank the Armed Forces and other security agencies for their patriotic efforts.
“I also thank all our development partners and foreign governments for their invaluable contributions.”
While restating his determination to promote national security and development, he said: “We remain committed to promoting a vision of a secure, safe, just, peaceful, prosperous and strong nation.
Indeed, we shall be employing all elements of our national and human resources to ensure security, a just society, peaceful co-existence, national unity, prosperity and sustainable development, while promoting our good standing abroad.”
The President however acknowledged that there were prevailing security matters that the administration was battling with.
“Furthermore, the state of education, the youth bulge, unemployment, socio-political and ethno-religious divisions, fake news and hate speeches all help to quicken and compound the security challenges.”
Buhari commended the graduands for the hard work they have put in to become worthy of the certificates they have been awarded, adding: “I congratulate the NDC Course 27 graduands and their spouses for your hard work, endurance and deserved success.
“You have gone through the crucible, you have endured short nights and long arduous days, you have passed the test of fire and today is surely your day of glory.
“Let me specially congratulate graduands from friendly nations for consolidating the bilateral relationships between our nations. Your participation in the course is a further testimony of our national security policy aspirations to promote international peace, friendship and cooperation.”
The President enjoined them to see their graduation as a call to duty in the service of their countries, stressing that their nations required the newly acquired knowledge for developmental plans.
He equally praised the leadership of the NDC for keeping the flag flying after 27 years, training senior officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and strategic Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as military officers from friendly nations.