The Federal Government has assured Nigerians living abroad of sustained efforts to improve national security and create a safer environment for seamless visits to the country.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), gave the assurance during an interactive engagement with members of the Nigerian community in Angola, held on the sidelines of the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) in Luanda, Angola.
According to an official statement signed by Leah Katung-Babatunde, Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Defence, General Musa said the Federal Government was committed to neutralising security threats across the country through enhanced military capabilities and stronger inter-agency collaboration.
The Minister said the government was strengthening the numerical strength and operational capacity of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies as part of efforts to improve the country’s security architecture.
“Every sector is receiving targeted interventions to enhance our national security framework,” General Musa stated.
He explained that some of the security challenges confronting Nigeria were linked to instability in the Sahel region, which could spill across national borders.
“Some of our ongoing challenges stem from regional instability in the Sahel, which trickles across our borders. However, comprehensive border management measures are actively being implemented to curb these incursions,” he said.
General Musa also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to using reliable data in strengthening national security strategies and development planning, noting that efforts to restore lasting peace and stability remained ongoing.
He said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, remained focused on addressing security threats and improving the overall safety of Nigerians.
The engagement in Luanda provided an opportunity for members of the Nigerian community in Angola to raise concerns and receive responses from senior government officials.
The Nigerian delegation to the AU Summit was led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
Also present at the engagement were the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; and Acting Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Mission in Angola, Ambassador Maxy Ogbede.
Tunji-Ojo highlighted improvements in data protection and identity management, stressing that stronger collaboration among government agencies was producing measurable results.
Dabiri-Erewa, on her part, assured Nigerians in the diaspora that NiDCOM remained committed to supporting their welfare and promoting opportunities for their contribution to national development.
