Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Monday, condemned the recurring incidents of violence in the country, describing it as evil and unfortunate.
But Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, on Monday, blamed the escalating security threats across the federation on the widening net of poverty and hunger in the country.
National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, said the Bola Tinubu administration was working to break the cycle of poverty and insecurity through key initiatives, like agricultural reforms, expanded social investment programmes and targeted security interventions.
Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru, stressed the need for a people-centred approach to security.
Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) condoled with the governments and people of Borno and Kano states over the recent tragic incidents that claimed lives and caused injuries.
Northern Senators Forum also condemned the killing of citizens travelling in an 18-seater bus on June 20 in Mangu, Plateau State.
Speaking during the second quarterly meeting of her pet project, Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), at State House, Abuja, Mrs Tinubu described the incidents of violence as evil and unfortunate.
To put a stop to such unfortunate incidents, she asked Nigerians to be steadfast in their prayer for the country.
She said, “As mothers and women, we have to pray more for our nation. The killings in Borno and Plateau States are not new but why are they resurfacing now when the nation is getting better and people are beginning to reckon with us?
“We need prayers. This is evil, very evil. We have to pray more. Whatever we can do for Nigeria, we have to do it.”
Tinubu called on the National Assembly to provide direct funding support for humanitarian and social intervention efforts led by her office and those of state governors’ wives lamenting persistent funding constraints that have hindered outreach to underserved communities across the country.
She stressed the importance of structured legislative backing for the initiatives being driven by First Ladies at both the federal and state levels.
According to her, “Most of the resources I used to work are just given to me by well-meaning Nigerians. It is whatever they give to me that I have to distribute to the First Ladies of various states. It’s difficult.
“So, the government doesn’t run my office. I do a lot of collaboration, which you will see.”
The first lady, a former three-term ranking member of the senate, made a direct appeal to her former colleagues in the federal legislature to support a dedicated intervention fund for the Office of the First Lady, modelled after zonal intervention projects.
According to her, “I want the Senate, I’m talking to my Senate colleagues now, because my going to the Senate for 12 years shouldn’t be in vain if they are not able to let a First Lady to take a project per year. I’m not going to go through the Ministry of Women Affairs… I’m going to the Senate.”
She said the proposed arrangement would allow first ladies to access funds responsibly and transparently, saying, “Even if it is N500 million they want to give us, if it is N1bn, then we are going to use it for this, and then we can be accountable.
“The point for me is this. After this place, I’m going to go back into society. I want to see what I can do to make society better.”
She stressed that the position of a First Lady should not be reduced to ceremonial appearances.
“We don’t want to sit in the villa or in the government residences and be eating. It should be with the first lady who wants to do work. She shouldn’t be restricted.”
CDS Blames Growing Insecurity on Poverty
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, blamed escalating insecurity across the country on the widening net of poverty and hunger in the country.
Musa stressed that poverty and hunger had escalated beyond social issues and now posed serious national security threats.
The defence chief made the remarks at the official opening of the 14th National Security Seminar, organised by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in Abuja on Monday.
Represented by Chief of Defence Training, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shetimma, the defence chief stated that the world was no longer solely defined by armed conflict but also by widespread economic hardship, food insecurity and social dislocation.
Musa stated, “Insecurity today is not only defined by weapons but also by economic deprivation, food insecurity and social dislocation. Hunger and poverty are no longer mere social challenges – they have become national security threats.
“The North-central region, particularly Benue State, once considered Nigeria’s food basket, is a clear example of how banditry, displacement and farmer-herder conflicts have devastated agricultural productivity.”
Musa stressed that the disruption of farming communities and illegal occupation of farmlands contributed to food inflation, displacement and mass migration, thereby destabilising both the economy and national cohesion.
He called on communities to deny criminals and terrorists sanctuary by supporting intelligence gathering, timely reporting and community vigilance.
Ribadu: How We’ll Break Cycle of Poverty
National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, said the President Bola Tinubu administration was working to break the cycle of poverty and insecurity through key initiatives, such as agricultural reforms, expanded social investment programmes, and targeted security interventions.
Ribadu stressed , “There is a clear link between poverty and insecurity, which feeds a vicious cycle that stifles economic growth and worsens social vulnerabilities. Hunger and deprivation are not just humanitarian concerns; they are drivers of crime, violence and national instability.”
Represented by Director of Defence Affairs, Major General Peter Mala, the NSA said national security was a collective responsibility that demanded a multidimensional and collaborative approach.
He stated that there was a vicious cycle between poverty and insecurity, which hindered economic growth and exacerbated social vulnerabilities.
Ribadu commended AANDEC for its commitment to national development and bringing together leaders of thought, security experts, policymakers and citizens to chart a path forward.
Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru, stressed the need for a people-centred approach to security.
Badaru called for targeted solutions that address the root causes of insecurity, including unemployment, poverty and social exclusion.
Badaru emphasised the need for collective action, noting that Nigeria’s security challenges transcend borders and require broad collaboration.
Northern Govs, Senators Commiserate with Borno, Kano Blasts, Plateau killing Victims
Chairman of the northern governors and Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Yahaya, on behalf of the group, expressed deep shock and sadness over the suicide bomb attack in Konduga, Borno State, which led to the loss of several lives.
He described the incident as a callous and barbaric act of terror, and raised concern about the resurgence of extremist violence in parts of the North-east.
A press release issued by Director-General, Press Affairs, Government House, Ismaila Uba Misilli, said, “The return of such cowardly attacks is not only a threat to the peace we have collectively laboured for in the region but a challenge to the security gains already made.
“We condemn this heinous act in the strongest terms and call for a renewed and more robust security response.”
He expressed condolences over the recent explosion in Kano.
Though the cause of the explosion was still under investigation, the forum urged authorities to take urgent steps to enhance public safety in densely populated and high-risk areas.
Chairman of the NSF, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, in a statement in Abuja, on Monday, urged security agencies to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the Plateau killing of wedding guests.
Yar’Adua said, “On behalf of the forum, I extend our deepest condolences to the government and people of Kaduna State, and most especially to the bereaved families affected by this heinous and cowardly attack.
“The NSF considers this tragedy not only a direct assault on innocent lives but also a grave affront to the values of peace, unity, and coexistence that bind our nation.
“This barbaric act has no place in any civilised society. It undermines the constitutional right of every Nigerian to move freely and reside in any part of the country, as guaranteed under Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“These killings are a direct threat to national cohesion and must not be allowed to continue unchecked.
“We call on the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies to bolster intelligence gathering and take urgent steps to ensure that those responsible for this massacre are apprehended and face the full weight of the law. Justice must be swift and unequivocal.”
Yar’Adua added, “Furthermore, we urge the federal government to prioritise the provision of modern surveillance and communication equipment to security agencies to proactively detect and deter future threats. It is imperative that our security infrastructure evolves to meet the gravity of our national challenges.
“We also appeal to the Plateau State Government to intensify efforts at promoting harmony among its diverse communities and fostering a climate of peace and understanding, especially between different ethnic and religious groups.”
Deji Elumoye, Sunday Aborisade, Linus Aleke and Segun Awofadeji
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