Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has asserted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has made substantial strides in overcoming the nation’s entrenched security challenges. Speaking at the 50th-anniversary celebration of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 18 Regular Course in Abuja on Friday night, Ribadu delivered a lecture titled “Veterans As Significant National Assets.”
Ribadu stated that in 2022, Nigeria stood at a “dangerous crossroads,” confronting multiple crises that jeopardised its unity, stability, and future. These challenges, he noted, ranged from the insurgency in the North East and banditry in the North West to unrest in the Niger Delta and separatist tensions in the South East.
“When this administration took office in May 2023, Nigeria was facing five intractable security challenges,” Ribadu said. “We have Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, deadly banditry across the North West and North Central, resurgent separatist violence in the South East, large-scale oil theft in the Niger Delta, and communal clashes that had claimed thousands of lives.” He added that porous borders, transnational crime, and climate-induced resource conflicts further exacerbated instability.
Counter-Insurgency Successes
According to Ribadu, the government’s counter-insurgency campaign has led to the neutralisation of over 13,500 terrorists and criminals, with more than 124,000 Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters and their families having surrendered. He also reported the recovery of weapons caches and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Areas previously controlled by insurgents in the Sambisa Forest, Lake Chad Basin, and Timbuktu Triangle are now reportedly back under government control.
In the North West, which has been severely affected by banditry, Ribadu claimed significant changes. He stated that over 11,250 hostages have been rescued in Zamfara and Kaduna States alone. Notorious warlords, including Ali Kachalla, Halilu Sububu, and Dogo Bwari, have been “neutralised,” and more than 50 criminal leaders and dozens of their deputies have been “taken out of circulation.” A non-kinetic strategy, notably “Operation Safe Corridor Northwest,” has also led to the surrender of 35 armed leaders. “This was once unimaginable, but through coordinated military pressure and community-based peace efforts, we are making real progress,” he added.
Niger Delta and South East
In the Niger Delta, a region crucial for Nigeria’s oil production, Ribadu asserted that the government has “reclaimed control” from pervasive crude oil theft and sabotage. He reported that oil production has increased from a historic low of one million barrels per day to an average of 1.8 million, providing a significant economic boost. All major pipelines are now operational and protected, with over 1,900 illegal refineries dismantled. Notably, he stated that oil production is resuming in Ogoniland for the first time in three decades.
For the South East, Ribadu claimed that “surgical operations and community engagement” have brought “relative calm.” He indicated that “sit-at-home” orders enforced by separatist agitators have significantly waned, and many arrested key figures are facing justice, leading to a return to normal social and economic life.
Modern Threats and Cyber Resilience
Ribadu also addressed modern security threats, highlighting Nigeria’s progress in cyber defence and financial intelligence. He stated that illegal financial flows supporting terrorism and separatism, particularly those routed through cryptocurrency platforms, have been disrupted. To boost national cyber resilience, a National Digital Forensics Laboratory and a Critical Infrastructure Protection Plan have been deployed.
The reunion dinner for the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 18 Regular Course was attended by notable dignitaries, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, the Minister of State for Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, and representatives of service chiefs.
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