President Bola Tinubu has directed a review of Nigeria’s national defence framework and an assessment of ongoing security operations as the government seeks to improve coordination against terrorism, banditry and other threats.
Tinubu discussed the review during a strategic meeting with the Minister of Defence, retired General Christopher Gwabin Musa, at the Presidential Residence in Lagos. According to a statement from the minister’s media aide, Leah Katung Babatunde, the President expressed satisfaction with progress reported in efforts to secure vulnerable communities and pledged continued support for the defence establishment.
Musa briefed the President on defence initiatives, frontline logistics and proposed reforms intended to improve troop morale, modernize military equipment and strengthen infrastructure. The meeting formed part of continuing security briefings and policy coordination within the administration.
In a separate engagement, Musa called for a reassessment of the Multinational Joint Task Force to ensure that it could respond effectively to changing threats in the Lake Chad Basin and wider Sahel.
Speaking at a high level international forum on the task force in Abuja, the Defence Minister said the regional security environment had changed significantly since the force was established 11 years ago. He called for a review of its structure, capabilities, intelligence systems, command arrangements, logistics and financing.
Musa urged participants to develop practical and sustainable proposals rather than limit the exercise to routine assessment. He said changes in the Sahel and shifts in international support made adaptation increasingly important.
Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede said contemporary threats crossed national borders and required sustained cooperation, intelligence sharing, interoperability and mutual trust. He asked participants to produce recommendations that could strengthen collective security across the Lake Chad region.
The forum brought together representatives of the African Union, European Union, Lake Chad Basin Commission, troop contributing countries and serving and former commanders of the multinational force.
