Presidency Hails Ribadu’s 25 Months As NSA, Lists Gains Against Terror, Banditry

The Presidency has lauded the performance of National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, describing his 25 months in office as a turning point in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, banditry and other security threats.

In a detailed assessment, Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, in a post on his X account, said Ribadu’s appointment as NSA had redefined the office and produced visible results across different regions of the country.

Olusegun recalled that President Tinubu inherited multiple security crises on May 29, 2023, including renewed terror attacks in the North, rising banditry in the North-West, large-scale crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, and violent activities by IPOB in the South-East.

He said Ribadu, who had earlier served briefly as Special Adviser on Security, was appointed NSA after the President overhauled the security architecture and appointed new service chiefs.

According to him, Ribadu prioritised inter-agency cooperation and intelligence-led operations, fostering synergy among security and intelligence agencies while leveraging his international contacts to strengthen Nigeria’s intelligence capacity.

Olusegun highlighted several gains under Ribadu’s coordination: capture of masterminds of terror attacks: Security forces arrested key suspects behind past high-profile attacks, including the March 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack and the July 2022 Kuje prison break.

”Reduction in banditry and terror attacks: Military offensives in Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Sokoto neutralised bandit leaders, freed thousands of hostages, and restored safety to highways such as the Abuja-Kaduna road.”

“Boost in oil production: Crude oil output rose from below 1mbpd in April 2023 to about 1.8mbpd today, as security clampdowns curtailed pipeline vandalism and theft.

“Relative peace in hotspots: Communal and ethnic clashes in Southern Kaduna, Plateau, Taraba, and Benue have declined, with government interventions combining security force action and non-kinetic engagements.”

“Degradation of IPOB/ESN: Military offensives and legal steps against IPOB’s foreign funding channels weakened the group, while sit-at-home orders have lost ground in the South East.”

The Presidency noted that Ribadu’s tenure has been supported by President Bola Tinubu’s consistent backing, including new military procurements, improved welfare for troops, and increased deployment of technology for intelligence and surveillance.

Olusegun maintained that while challenges still remained, Nigeria’s security architecture is now stronger as highways were safer, oil production more stable, and farming communities gradually returning to normal life.