'Judge Our Security Performance After Elections'

‘Judge Our Security Performance After Elections’ – Bwala Tells Nigerians
Government investing in drones, surveillance and intelligence driven security operations.
Bwala says community policing and international partnerships will boost security.

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Daniel Bwala, has outlined the Federal Government’s strategy to combat insurgency, banditry and kidnapping, saying the administration is expanding security personnel, deploying advanced technology and strengthening international partnerships to improve national security.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that speaking during a panel discussion on The Link Up Podcast hosted by EchoRoom, Bwala said the government had recognised that the current number of security operatives was insufficient to effectively police Nigeria’s growing population and vast landmass.

According to him, one of the administration’s immediate priorities is the recruitment and retraining of more security personnel across various agencies.

“We are investing in training and retraining. First of all, we’re investing in recruiting more security personnel because the one we have, they are not sufficient to match with the population and the land mass,” he said.

Bwala disclosed that part of the newly recruited personnel would serve as forest guards to prevent terrorists and criminal groups from using forests as operational bases.

“We needed to send people to the forest, so we have to recruit more and send them to forest guards as forest guards. Those ones, the terrorists, are also stealing our mines and resources,” he added.

He explained that the recruitment exercise also covers the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS) and marine security formations.

The presidential aide said the government was equally strengthening community based policing by working with paramilitary organisations and licensed private security firms to enhance intelligence gathering and local security operations.

According to him, the Tinubu administration is investing heavily in drones, surveillance technology and electronic interception systems to improve intelligence led operations while reducing risks to civilians.

Bwala also revealed that Nigeria had expanded defence cooperation with neighbouring Sahel countries and the United States, with special forces participating in joint operations and specialised training.

'Judge Our Security Performance After Elections' – Bwala Tells Nigerians — ‘Judge Our Security Performance After Elections’ – Bwala Tells Nigerians

He described kidnapping as a growing “crisis economy,” noting that investigations had shown that some perpetrators were ordinary Nigerians, including neighbours and acquaintances of their victims.

While acknowledging that insecurity remains a major challenge, Bwala maintained that the Federal Government’s multi layered strategy combining increased manpower, technology, intelligence sharing, international collaboration and community participation would strengthen national security and restore peace across the country.