President Bola Tinubu has instructed the nation’s Security Chiefs to deal with oil theft, saying he won’t tolerate the menace.
He gave the charge to the Security Chiefs on Thursday in his first official engagement with the heads of the nation’s security and intelligence agencies since he assumed office on Monday.
National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Mungono, disclosed this to State House correspondents after a meeting between the President and Security Chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Monguno said, “He is going to embark on a lot of reforms in terms of our security architecture, he is going to take a closer look at our misfortunes in the maritime domain, focusing particularly on the issues of oil theft, that he is not going to tolerate. Wherever the problem is coming from it must be crushed as soon as possible.”
He said the President emphasised the need for coordinated efforts to combat terrorism, insurgency, banditry, oil theft, sea robbery, piracy, and other security threats.
During the two-hour meeting, President Tinubu expressed his deep appreciation for the dedication and sacrifices made by the Armed Forces, intelligence agencies, and paramilitary organisations in defending the country.
He paid tribute to those who lost their lives in safeguarding Nigeria’s security and acknowledged the gains achieved so far.
However, he stressed the urgency to build upon the achievements, reverse misfortunes, and restore stability to the nation.
He said, “President Tinubu underlined his determination to ensure that Nigeria does not lag behind other countries in terms of development and security.
“He outlined his philosophy, which focuses on contemporary security measures tailored to the requirements of the present time.
“He emphasised the importance of a unified approach and a coordinated clearing house, where all security agencies work together towards a common goal.
“The President unequivocally stated that he will not tolerate agencies working at cross purposes or conflicting with each other.
“He demanded compliance with coordination efforts, frequent consultations, and timely reporting, which should be promptly acted upon.
“President Tinubu intends to initiate reforms in the security architecture, with a particular emphasis on addressing challenges in the maritime domain, notably oil theft.
“The President entrusted the security agencies with developing a blueprint to address these issues urgently. He stressed that time is of the essence, and changes must be implemented promptly.”
Monguno said President Tinubu further pledged his commitment to supporting the operational elements of the Armed Forces and ensuring they have all the necessary resources, including proper sustenance, equipment, motivation, and support.
Simultaneously, he called upon the intelligence agencies to provide the required intelligence for effective operations.