PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Monday, June 5 reminded security and intelligence agencies in the country of the importance of sharing information and intelligence among themselves, as hoarding such resources could be counter-productive in the fight against terrorism.
While acknowledging past efforts in counter-terrorism and the state-of-the-art facilities at the two facilities he visited, Tinubu, in a statement by the Director Information, State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye, highlighted the importance of backing such efforts with knowledge.
The President, while undertaking a tour of the new Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) and facilities at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in Abuja, said his administration recognised that to achieve economic revival, prosperity and development, security should be of optimum priority.
He stated: “It is a great joy to see that we are getting proactive resources to prepare ourselves. Terrorism is not unique to Nigeria alone; it is across the world and we have to fight it. We have to eliminate it completely.
“If we as Nigerians are looking for economic revival, prosperity and development, then we have to give priority to security. What I have seen here is a demonstration of intelligence efforts to counter-terrorism. This must be backed by knowledge.
“Counter-terrorism that is not backed by knowledge and intelligence is not going to be of any service to any nation. We are going to work on that together.
“The effort of the entire armed forces of this country must be put together in a way that there will be one single focus on securing the country. You can’t have disharmony in an orchestra. We must focus on one tunnel; coordinate, share information, share intelligence and work harder.
“You cannot hoard information. You cannot hoard intelligence. I am glad that Nigeria is on the path to succeed. We will, I assure you.
“We will make it a priority and that is why I am here this morning.”
Tinubu described the facilities as very important, expressing willingness to do whatever necessary to support the security architecture.
In his remarks, the NSA, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), thanked the President for making the visit his first engagement outside the Villa, saying: “It reinforces his commitment, dedication and inflexible rigidity to ensuring that the security misfortunes of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and by extension the sub-region, are overcome within the shortest possible time.”
Monguno pledged the total commitment and dedication of ONSA to ensuring that Tinubu realises the promises he made to the Nigerian people on security.
