President Tinubu pledges continued support for Nigerian military

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to equipping and empowering the Nigerian military, emphasizing the need for strategic leadership to address the complex security and development challenges facing the nation.

Speaking on Friday during the graduation ceremony of Course 32 participants at the National Defence College in Abuja, President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, highlighted his administration’s ongoing efforts to bolster the country’s defense capabilities.

He expressed concern over the state of infrastructure at the college’s permanent site in Piwoyi, Abuja, and assured that his administration is dedicated to completing the ongoing work and upgrading facilities.

“Under my watch, members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria have made remarkable sacrifices and achieved significant successes in protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and securing the lives and property of our citizens. I will continue to do everything within my constitutional powers to ensure that the Nigerian military is well-resourced and fit for purpose,” Tinubu said.

The President also commended the graduates of Course 32 for their contributions to research that aims to provide strategic options for leveraging Nigeria’s mining industry to enhance national security and development. “We are already working with the fundamentals of your recommendations as we look forward to actualizing our golden era scenario with substantial security assets supported by robust collaboration and institutional reforms,” he added.

Tinubu praised the National Defence College’s broad thematic approach, which consolidates knowledge to find sustainable solutions to security and development issues in Nigeria, Africa, and beyond. He highlighted some of the administration’s achievements, including the implementation of a new national minimum wage benefiting civilian workers and security personnel alike.

Addressing the ongoing challenges of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta, Tinubu noted, “We are also working tirelessly to curb the menace of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta. I have tasked the Defence Headquarters and other security agencies with curbing this menace as soon as possible. This will boost oil and gas production and achieve our desired economic stability.”

President Tinubu further emphasized the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for value addition in the mining sector, noting ongoing collaboration with international partners to harness the sector’s potential for national security and development.

The President charged the graduates to uphold values of excellence, courage, patriotism, and integrity in their future endeavors. He urged them to apply their newly acquired skills to tackle the multifaceted challenges confronting Nigeria.

Earlier, Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Olotu, Commandant of the National Defence College, stated that the 111 graduates of Course 32 are well-prepared to contribute to Nigeria’s strategic leadership across various sectors. “Our mission is to develop future strategic leaders equipped with the requisite knowledge and analytical skills necessary to harness the instruments of national power in a dynamic defence and security environment,” he said.

The graduates, drawn from the Nigerian Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, and several ministries, included 19 international participants from countries such as India, Brazil, South Africa, and Ghana, underscoring Nigeria’s commitment to global cooperation in defense and security matters.

The ceremony was attended by key government officials, including the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle; Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; and other military chiefs. Also present were the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, among others.