Tinubu Unveils New Security Blueprint, Orders Fresh Review of Anti-Terror War

By Taibat Ummi Yakubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signalled a fresh phase in Nigeria’s battle against insecurity, unveiling plans to review the country’s defence architecture, reassess ongoing military operations and strengthen coordination among security agencies to sustain gains recorded in the fight against insurgency and banditry.

The president disclosed this during a strategic security meeting with the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, at the Presidential Residence in Lagos, where top issues relating to national security, military reforms and ongoing operations across the country were discussed.

Tinubu expressed satisfaction with the progress made by security forces in protecting vulnerable communities and restoring stability in troubled areas. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing the military and defence sector with the support needed to confront emerging security challenges and consolidate recent successes.

During the meeting, the Defence Minister briefed the president on ongoing military operations, frontline logistics and a series of reforms designed to strengthen the armed forces. The briefing also covered plans to improve troop welfare, modernise military equipment and expand critical defence infrastructure across the country.

The minister thanked Tinubu for his continued backing of the nation’s security institutions, assuring Nigerians that the Ministry of Defence remained focused on its mission of safeguarding the country and protecting citizens from security threats.

The meeting formed part of the president’s wider security consultation programme aimed at ensuring that government responses to security and economic challenges remain coordinated, effective and result-oriented.

In a related development, the Minister of Defence called for a major strengthening of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), warning that the changing nature of security threats in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel region demands a fresh approach.

Speaking at a high-level international forum on the MNJTF held in Abuja, the minister said the regional force had remained a key pillar in the fight against terrorism, cross-border crimes and violent extremism since its establishment more than a decade ago.

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However, he noted that evolving security realities now require a thorough review of the force’s operational structure, intelligence systems, logistics, command mechanisms and funding arrangements to ensure it remains effective against increasingly complex threats.

He urged stakeholders to move beyond routine discussions and focus on practical solutions that would reposition the task force for future challenges, especially as security dynamics in the Sahel continue to shift and international support patterns evolve.

The minister praised the sacrifices of troops operating under the MNJTF and acknowledged the contributions of regional governments, the African Union, the European Union and other international partners supporting security operations in the region.

Expressing confidence in the outcome of the forum, he said the participation of military leaders, policymakers, security experts and representatives of member countries would produce concrete recommendations capable of strengthening the force and improving regional security cooperation.

He further assured participants that the Federal Government and the Armed Forces of Nigeria would carefully consider the forum’s recommendations, stressing that President Tinubu’s administration views the MNJTF as a critical instrument for promoting peace, stability and collective security across Africa.

Also speaking at the event, Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, described the forum as a timely opportunity to evaluate the achievements and future direction of the multinational force.

According to him, the growing complexity of transnational security threats makes deeper cooperation among countries more important than ever. He emphasized the need for stronger intelligence sharing, improved interoperability among security forces and greater trust between partner nations.

Oluyede called for frank and solution-driven discussions that would generate practical strategies for enhancing the effectiveness of the MNJTF and tackling insecurity across the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel region.