Buhari Commissions New Office of National Security Adviser
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday commissioned the new Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and National Counterterrorism Centre (NCTC).
The two state-of-the-art facilities situated in Abuja will optimize efforts at addressing evolving security challenges in the country, especially terrorism and violent extremism.
Speaking at the inauguration of the two world-class facilities, the President said it would serve as a major legacy to provide the incoming administration with infrastructure to effectively coordinate national security and counterterrorism efforts.
Buhari also used the occasion to outline significant milestones achieved by his administration on National Security, including gains in combating terrorism, armed banditry, kidnapping, separatist tendencies, crude oil theft, piracy as well as militancy in the South-South and cyber-security.
On the threat of terrorism, which was labelled as a major security challenge facing the country when he assumed office in 2015, the President said:
”I can confidently state here today that we have achieved significant milestones in degrading the major threat and restoring normalcy to most of the hitherto securitized areas in the North East.
”These areas previously occupied by terrorists have been freed and Internally Displaced Persons are voluntarily returning to their homes.
”This was largely achieved through the valiant efforts of our Armed Forces and other security agencies, in collaboration with our regional and international partners but above all, the support and cooperation of the Nigerian citizens.”
Apart from the degraded threat of terrorism in the North East, Buhari also expressed delight that government has curbed the series of armed banditry and kidnapping cases in the North West and North Central zones.
He noted that these criminal acts had emerged as a result of the scattering of Boko Haram in the North East and the implosion of Libya in the Maghreb.
