Bola Ahmed Tinubu has promised reforms to deal with Nigeria’s insecurity, in what was his first official meeting with security and intelligence chiefs since becoming president.
Terrorism and an Islamist insurgency are entrenched in the north-east of the country, banditry and armed militias are common in the north-west and central Nigeria – while separatist agitations, oil theft and sea piracy threaten the south.
His predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, famously promised and failed to defeat Islamist insurgents.
But newly sworn-in President Tinubu “has made it very, very clear that he’s determined to build on whatever gains have been made and to reverse misfortunes and turn the tide in our favour,” said national security adviser Babagana Monguno after Thursday’s meeting in Abuja.
Better co-ordination, consultations and timely reporting were all needed to improve the way security agencies work together, Mr Tinubu said.
At his swearing-in on Monday, Mr Tinubu said health, education and infrastructure development would also be major priorities for his government.