I’ll ensure well-resourced Nigerian military – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu, through his representative Minister of Defence Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, has pledged to utilize his constitutional authority to ensure that the Nigerian military receives adequate resources and is fully prepared to fulfill its duty of protecting the nation.

This announcement was made during the graduation ceremony of participants from the National Defence College (NDC) Course 31 in Abuja.

Tinubu expressed his admiration for the Armed Forces of Nigeria, recognizing them as one of the country’s most esteemed institutions.

He reassured the military of the government’s ongoing recognition and appreciation for their selflessness and devotion to the nation.

Additionally, the president commended the commandant and management team of the college for their efforts in cultivating and empowering a new generation of strategic leaders not only for the armed forces, but also for various governmental ministries, departments, agencies, and allied nations.

He said the college had continued to produce military and civilian leaders who are intellectually sound, courageous, patriotic and of high integrity.

He added that the college’s unique style of consolidated knowledge through a broad thematic area had helped in finding sustainable solutions to national security and development problems not just in Nigeria but in Africa and beyond.

He expressed confidence that the graduates of course 31 would bring the knowledge, expertise and skills acquired during the course to help in finding solutions to current and emerging security and developmental challenges in the country.

“Our dear country is faced with the flora of challenges including insecurity, social economic hiccups, climate change and migratory issues, ‘the so-called Japa syndrome’.

“We are confronted by systematic corruption, crude oil theft, reduced national productivity, weak infrastructure, weak revenue base, and rising domestic and external debt among others.

“Those challenges demand creative and purposeful driving leadership to mitigate.

“Since coming into office, I have rolled up my sleeves myself to confront and address them frontally and we shall overcome with the special grace of God.

“I must admit that those challenges will require the deployment of knowledge and insight you have acquired from this college,” he said.

The president said he had taken some essential policy steps such as the removal of oil subsidies and liberalisation of foreign exchange rates among others, to reposition the Nigerian economy for prosperity and inclusive growth.

He added that he rejigged the leadership of the armed forces and police among others to usher in a fresh perspective to dealing with the security challenges, urging the participants to go back to their respective services and agencies and align with the visions of the new leadership.

Tinubu said the world was currently faced with myriads of threats such as the disruptive effect of emerging technologies, cyber threats, and unconstitutional change of government in the African sub-region.

He urged the military to help the governments build resilience against the recent spate of the democratic recession in West Africa and build stronger assistance and mitigation to all the challenges.

“I am banking on you to provide creative leadership solutions towards addressing those national, regional and global challenges,” he added.

The president also pledged to ensure the completion of the college’s permanent site before the end of his first term to enable the college to conveniently transmute into a full-fledged Defence University.