President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a secure, stable and prosperous Nigeria, saying its security strategy combines military operations with economic and social interventions.
Tinubu stated this on Saturday in Kaduna during the passing-out ceremony of cadets of the 73rd Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), comprising the Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as cadets of Short Service Course 49 of the Army, Direct Short Service Course 34 and Branch Commission Course 3 of the Air Force.
The President, who was represented at the ceremony by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, said his administration had remained focused despite the challenges confronting the country.
He said the government was deploying all elements of national power, particularly the military, to stabilise the security situation while improving and adapting its interventions to emerging threats.
“Despite the diverse challenges our dear country has been confronted with, my administration has remained steadfast, focused, and committed to building a secure, stable, and prosperous Nigeria,” Tinubu said.
The President, however, noted that military action alone could not address the root causes of insecurity, identifying poverty, unemployment, inadequate education and social disintegration as factors that could drive conflict.
He said the Renewed Hope Agenda therefore places job creation, macroeconomic stability, human capital development and social protection alongside security operations.
“We aptly recognise that kinetic military operations alone cannot defeat insecurity since poverty, unemployment, poor education, and social disintegration are notable drivers of conflicts,” he said.
Tinubu also stressed the importance of regional and international cooperation in addressing security threats, which he described as increasingly transnational.
He said Nigeria would continue to provide leadership and support to other countries in West Africa while promoting democracy, security cooperation and economic integration through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other regional bodies.
According to him, Nigeria remains opposed to unconstitutional changes of government but will not abandon its neighbours in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.
“We remain opposed to unconstitutional changes of government, however we will not abandon our brothers and sisters in Mali, Niger, or Burkina Faso,” he said.
Tinubu said preserving decades of ECOWAS achievements in free movement, trade and regional coordination remained important to the collective security and prosperity of the region.
On the Nigerian Defence Academy, the President said the institution had continued to fulfil its mandate since its establishment in 1964 by adapting its training programmes to contemporary security challenges.
He noted that the NDA had developed a curriculum combining military training, academic education and character development, with increased emphasis on counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.
He also highlighted the growing integration of technology into the Academy’s training and research programmes.
According to Tinubu, Nigerian cadets are currently receiving military training in countries including the United Kingdom, United States, Brazil and France.
He said the participation of NDA cadets in international military competitions, including those in the United States, Brazil and China, demonstrated improvements in the Academy’s standards and global recognition.
“Such invitations are earned through demonstrated excellence. They attest to the remarkable improvements in the Academy’s training standards, professionalism, and global standing,” he said.
Tinubu added that the NDA had also strengthened its role as a regional centre for military education by training cadets from several African countries, including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, The Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone and Uganda.
He said the engagements were helping to strengthen military diplomacy, deepen professional cooperation and reinforce Nigeria’s role in defence education and capacity development across Africa.
