President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, said that there is a lot of pressure on security and wants the military to tap from his experience as a former actor to deal with modern challenges.
This was revealed by the minister of defence, Bashir Magashi, in a chat with correspondents after presenting the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Farouk Yahaya, to the president at the presidential villa, Abuja.
Magashi said President Buhari stressed the need for synergy among the security services, revealing that there will be many changes soon.
Magashi told reporters about their interaction with the president: “He told him (COAS) that there’s a lot of pressure on security and being an actor, at one point or the other, has given us a direction in which we can learn from his experiences and apply them to our modern operations and I think we have taken the advice seriously.
“The issue of synergy among the security forces was also stressed and I’m sure there will be a lot of changes as regards to the security operations in this country.”
The minister also affirmed that it is the role of the police to tackle banditry, kidnapping and other criminalities in the country, saying that the military was only there to help.
He explained: “In the northwestern part of the country you know that the more concern we have is the insecurity of banditry, kidnapping, and other criminalities. We are taking the challenge.
“But you know, really, this is the constitutional responsibility of the police, we are only an aid to the police and we are giving maximum cooperation to the police in order to see an end to this banditry and insecurity in the Northwest, otherwise I think it’s quite different from the North-East.
“In the North-East, it’s Boko Haram issue is and we’re up and doing to ensure that we bring an end to this Boko Haram issue, especially with this development of ISWAP.”
He revealed that they were in the villa for the COAS to meet the president for the first time since he was appointed.
“What really brought us to the Villa today was to present the new Chief of Army Staff to Mr President for his blessing and guidance to the new Chief of Army Staff, Major General Farouk Yahaya, who has just been appointed about eleven days ago.
“The President received us, offered some advice on how we can go about doing this operation and the entire security of the country. We assured him that we will do our best to bring an end to the problem of insecurity in this country,” Magashi stated.
On whether the COAS has given any assurances to the president, the minister remarked: “I don’t think it’s the time for that, but he’s very happy, he thanked Mr President for giving him the opportunity to serve as the Chief of Army Staff and promised that he will bring all his experience to bear in collaboration with his colleagues; Chief of Air Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff to be able to do this country proud.
“The president is really having confidence in the new set of people that he has appointed. We wish them the best of luck.”
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There’s a lot of pressure on security ― Buhari
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