Tinubu warns service chiefs against working at cross purposes

Tinubu warns service chiefs against working at cross purposes 

President Bola Tinubu has warned the Service Chiefs and heads of security and intelligence agencies against working at cross purposes.

Tinubu gave the warning in his first meeting with the security and intelligence heads led by Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.

The President also challenged the service chiefs to crush anyone involved in oil theft, saying his administration would not tolerate the menace.

National Security Adviser, Major Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd), gave the outcome of meeting with State House correspondents.

He said the President directed heads of security agencies to come out with their blueprints.

He said it was an appraisal meeting for the President to get acquainted with the activities of the different security formations and to tell them his own philosophy and expectations from the security heads.

He said, “The President and Commander in Chief of the armed forces has just concluded a meeting of the general security appraisal committee consisting of the Chief of Staff service chiefs Inspector General of Police, and heads of the intelligence agencies.

“This is the very first meeting he’s had with the heads of the security agencies. The meeting lasted for two hours.

“Having been briefed by the participants of the meeting, Mr. President, addressed prevailing issues confronting the nation in terms of insecurity and also mentioned his own philosophy towards dealing with national security issues.”

Monguno also said the President “appreciated the armed forces and intelligence agencies and the wider paramilitary agencies for the work they have been doing in the past couple of years. Their sacrifice, their loyalty, and he also paid tribute to those who died in defending this country, from the great big menace of terrorism, insurgency banditry, oil theft, sea robbery, piracy, etc.

“The President has made it very clear that he’s determined to build on whatever gains that have been made and to reverse misfortunes and turn the tide in our favour.”

President Tinubu said in moving the country forward he would need the security agencies to redouble their efforts, stressing that his philosophy is one of contemporary security measures dealing with the requirements of the time.
“He has made it very clear that he will not accept a situation in which our fortunes keep declining. And his own trajectory is that national security has to be coordinated…
“All agencies must work to achieve one single purpose. Working at cross purposes and colliding with each other is not something that he will condone.”

The President however promised to do whatever is within his powers to enhance the operations of the agencies and make their work easy.