Buhari Meets With NGF Security Council, Service Chiefs Again

Buhari Meets With NGF Security Council, Service Chiefs Again

President Muhammadu Buhari has again met with members of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) Security Council and Service Chiefs at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The meeting which is taking place at the Council Chambers has in attendance, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, the National Security Adviser (NSA) Major General Babagana Monguno (retd), the Chief of Staff to the President Prof Ibrahim Gambari and Heads of other security agencies.

Some of the governors joined virtually, they are Chairman of the NGF security council and Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, Governor of Bayelsa State Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Borno State Babagana Zulum, Governor of Ebonyi State David Umahi, and Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Others are Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai is represented, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, and the Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi.

Also in attendance were the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufa’i, Chief of Defence Military Intelligence, Air Vice Marshall, Muhammed Salihu Usman, the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, and the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammad Dingyadi.

The meeting comes barely 24 hours after President Buhari on Monday met with Governors from the six North-East states, all Service Chiefs, and the Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu behind closed doors.

During the meeting, President Muhammadu Buhari urged the Nigerian Army to do better in the war against insurgency in the North-East.

According to the President, his administration ran on three key principles: security, the economy, and fighting corruption.

He said security is the ultimate job of government and that based on the level of insecurity his government inherited, the people of the North-East will appreciate what his government has done so far.

President Buhari also congratulated Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, on his emergence as Chairman of the North-East Governors Forum, noting that the security challenges facing Borno are always on his mind.

After the meeting, Governor Zulum addressed newsmen.

He said the government must address the remote causes of insurgency in the North-East, which include widespread poverty, illiteracy, and access to farmlands.

According to him, this is why Boko Haram has been successful in recruiting more members into its fold.

Governor Zulum declined to repeat his allegations of sabotage in the military when asked about the recent attack on his convoy.

He said the military is doing all it can to combat the insurgents, stressing that they need more equipment to be successful in this endeavour.