Tag: Babagana Monguno

Insecurity: We Will Not Relent Until Peace Is Restored, Says NSA

A file photo of the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno
A file photo of the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno

 

Amid the security challenges across the country, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno has said that the Federal Government will not relent until peace is restored.

The NSA gave the assurance on Friday via a statement after a security meeting convened by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja, reiterating the current administration’s commitment in fixing tackling the various security threats.

“There shall be no relenting until peace and security is significantly restored in our communities,” Monguno, a retired Major-General said.

“Mr. President is very prepared to take profound measures in the wider interest of the people and the Nigerian nation.”

Monguno explained that the security meeting is necessitated by the fact that President Buhari is “concerned about the persisting security challenges in parts of the country.”

According to him, the Commander-in-Chief is ever ready to frontally confront the situation in the country.

To the NSA, President Buhari “made it abundantly clear that while the insurgents, bandits and criminals are still at it, he has no doubt that the Nigerian Security agencies and all of us as a nation will certainly overcome all the current security problems and defeat the forces of evil marauding about in different parts of the country.”

READ ALSO: Buhari Holds Security Meeting

“While the criminals continue to test the will of the Nigerian government, the President and the Council which adjourned today’s critical meeting until Tuesday morning to receive further briefings from the Security Chiefs, are set and determined to decisively end the assault on the nation and will do all that it takes,” he added.

Nigeria has been experiencing a series of security threats ranging from terrorism, banditry, militancy, cultism among others in several parts of the country.

The country has been battling terrorism for more than a decade which has killed 36,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands in the northeast.

The Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) split from the jihadist group Boko Haram in 2016 and has since become a dominant threat in Nigeria, attacking troops and bases while killing and kidnapping passengers at bogus checkpoints.

On March 1, jihadist fighters burnt down a United Nations humanitarian compound in the town of Dikwa after dislodging troops, killing six civilians.

Nigeria’s jihadist violence has spread to neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and Niger, prompting a regional military coalition to fight the insurgents.

Arms Fund: Presidency Says No Money Is Missing, Explains How $1bn Was Spent

 

The controversy trailing the allegation of missing arms fund under the leadership of the former service chiefs has continued to generate mixed reactions from different parts of the country.

Major General Babagana Monguno, who is the National Security Adviser (NSA), was said to have alleged during an interview with BBC Hausa Service that the funds meant for arms procurement were missing under the former security chiefs.

While his office stated that the NSA was quoted out of context and did not categorically make such a claim, the Presidency avowed that no such money was missing.

“I imagine that you are talking about the $1 billion taken from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) with the consent of state governors and was used for military procurement.

“I want to assure you that nothing of that money is missing,” Mr Garba Shehu said on Friday when he featured as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

He added, “The reference by it in the interview with Hausa Service of the BBC by the National Security Adviser, I think, has been misconstrued and mistranslated.”

A file photo of the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno
A file photo of the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno.

 

Held Up In UAE

Shehu, who is the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, clarified the controversy triggered by the claim and went further to give an insight into the procurements made by the military since the funds were withdrawn.

He noted that the procurements made have not been fully delivered and about $536 million of the money was paid directly in a government-to-government transaction with the United States government.

“In August 2018, they (the US) allowed the Nigerian Government to buy 12 Super Tucano aircraft suitable for the kind of war we are fighting in the North East. In addition to that, other arms of the military have also made procurements.

“The Nigerian Navy has done nearly 100 per cent of their procurements equipment delivered; the Nigerian Air Force has bought a number of attack helicopters – 35 i-helicopters from Ukraine,” the presidential aide outlined.

He, however, said there have been problems with the procurements made by the Nigerian Army, stressing that the equipment have been coming in bits and in pieces.

Shehu disclosed that Nigeria’s biggest procurement was coming from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“As I speak to you, it is held up in a situation which only diplomacy will resolve. The Nigerian Minister of Defence actually had a meeting with the Ambassador of the UAE to Nigeria and the idea is to resolve this so that these equipment held up will be released.

“We need them here, all these procurements are ongoing; nothing can be bought on the shelf, they are bought on order. The NSA did not make accusations of misappropriation because there is none in dealing with this matter,” he insisted.

‘I Was Quoted Out Of Context’: NSA Denies Saying Arm Procurement Funds Are Missing

A file photo of the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno
A file photo of the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno

 

The Office of the National Security Adviser on Friday denied that funds for arms procurement have gone missing under the former Service Chiefs.

The BBC’s Hausa Service had earlier reported that the NSA, Major-General Babagana Monguno, hinted at the missing funds during an interview.

“No one knows what happened to the money, but by God’s grace, the president will investigate to find out where it went or where the goods went,” the General reportedly said in Hausa.

READ ALSO: Money Missing In Arms Procurement Fund, Says Buhari’s NSA

But the ONSA said his comments had been quoted out of context “as he did not categorically say that funds meant for arms procurement were missing under the Former Service Chiefs as reported or transcribed by some media outlets from the BBC interview.”

Instead, the ONSA statement said, Monguno had “only reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to deal decisively with insecurity and stated President Muhammadu Buhari’s continued commitment to provide all necessary support to the Armed Forces, including the provision of arms and equipment.”

The statement stressed that the NSA had “clearly informed the BBC reporter that Mr President has provided enormous resources for arms procurement, but the orders were either inadequate or yet to be delivered and that did not imply that the funds were misappropriated under the former Service Chiefs.

“The NSA also informed the reporter that, Mr President is following up on the procurement process as is usual with contracts relating to military equipments, in most cases the process involves manufacturing, due diligence and tedious negotiations that may change delivery dates.”

Nigeria has been ravaged with a number of security problems, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry across the North-West and ethnic tensions in the South.

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the nation’s newly appointed security chiefs to effect radical changes within six weeks.

NSA: By God’s Grace Buhari Will Investigate What Happened To Money Released For Buying Arms

A file photo of the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno
A file photo of the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno

 

The National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno has said that President Muhammadu Buhari will investigate what happened to some monies released for buying arms.

Monguno made the comment during an interview with BBC Hausa on Friday.

“No one knows what happened to the money, but by God’s grace, the president will investigate to find out where it went or where the goods went,” the General said.

READ ALSO: We Will Not Be Blackmailed, No Dialogue With Bandits – NSA

Nigeria has been ravaged with a number of security problems, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry across the North-West and ethnic tensions in the South.

The President has ordered the nation’s newly appointed security chiefs to effect radical changes within six weeks.

But Monguno said the new service chiefs haven’t seen some of the arms and equipment expected to be in the military’s possession.

“As long as there is no proper investigation, I will not say anything, but the money is gone, the goods are not seen, and the new security chiefs say they have not seen it,” he said.

“Some may be on their way from the United States, England or elsewhere, but now I don’t see them on the ground.”

#EndSARS Protesters Used Social Media To Escalate Tensions, Monguno Claims

FG Denies Alleged Plot To Shutdown Internet During Elections
A file photo of the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd).

 

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Retired Major General Babagana Monguno, believes the #EndSARS protesters used social media as a means to escalate tensions in the country, with the spread of subversive content.

He stated this on Wednesday at a workshop on the review of the Draft National Cybersecurity Strategy 2020 in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Monguno, who was represented at the event by Mr Aliyu Mohammed, the Permanent Secretary (Special Services) at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, claimed that the protests were of noble intentions but ended up using social media platforms to disseminate seditious comments.

“We are witnesses to the use of social media to disseminate subversive content to incite violence and heightened tension, causing unrest and sparking widespread looting and destruction across the country,” he said. 

The NSA was, however, quick to note that cyberspace showed numerous potentials and the Federal Government intended to harness and progressively use the digital revolution to its maximum.

He added, “Our country is currently at a turning point in its history; a significant section of our population of over 200 million people are young and entrepreneurs.

“We are also witnessing a rapid rise in our adoption of the internet in our daily lives.”

Also present at the workshop was the ICT Director at the Ministry of Science and Technology,  Idowu Afe, who stated that the draft would be of immense advantage to the Nigerian digital sphere.

“The committee is hoping to complete work on the document over the next few days and pass the draft document to the President for his approval.

“The document is expected to contribute to the growth of the nation’s digital technology,” Afe told the audience at the event.

The Senate introduced the Anti-Social Media Bill in November 2019 to mitigate the use of social media in spreading false information.

But the bill faced opposition from human rights activists and Nigerians who condemned it, insisting that it was a means for the government to gag freedom of speech.

Buhari Orders Overhaul Of Nigeria’s Security Apparatus

President Muhammadu Buhari presides over Security Council Meeting

 

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the reengineering of the nation’s entire security apparatus.

This is according to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno.

Mr. Monguno briefed journalists on Tuesday after the third National Security Council meeting in 2020 chaired by President Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The nation’s security adviser called for calm, promising that the President along with the Service Chiefs is doing a lot to handle the insecurity in the northwest and north-central states.

He said that apart from the security situation in the country, the issue of drug addiction and trafficking was addressed at the meeting.

According to him,  Nigeria has moved from a transit hub to a drug production centre.

He noted that 17 meth labs were recently shut down in the country and called for a wholesome national approach to stopping the drug menace.

Also during the meeting, the heads of various intelligence briefed on their plans towards ending insecurity in the country.

The NSA further addressed the recent attack on the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum and his convoy, and the accusations of sabotage in the war on terror by the governor.

Mr. Monguno, expressing his displeasure with the situation, said that governor Zulum will be attending the virtual NGF meeting in a few minutes, and only then can a concise statement on the matter be given.

On the Southern Kaduna Killings, the NSA said it is a political matter and the state governor is doing his best to tackle the situation.

The meeting was attended by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha, and the National Security Adviser, NSA, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd).

Others are the Service Chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

Also present were the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, the Director-General of National, Department of State Services, DSS, Yusuf Bichi, the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ahmed Rufa’i, and the Directorate of Military Intelligence.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, was in attendance alongside some ministers, they are the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammad Dingyadi and the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada.

Buhari Sets Up Committee To Coordinate Humanitarian Actions

Atiku, Ezekwesili Absent As Buhari And Other Candidates Sign Peace Accord
File photo of President Muhammadu Buhari signing a document.

 

 

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the constitution of a National Humanitarian Coordination Committee (NHCC) to oversee all humanitarian actions in the country.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, announced this in a statement on Monday.

According to Adesina, the committee will, among others, provide a national vision for humanitarian actions and advise on coordination between the security services and humanitarian actors.

The committee is also mandated to settle disputes that may arise from interactions between security services and the humanitarian community.

Its other functions include to propose policies that enhance coordination and seamless delivery of humanitarian aid to affected communities, facilitate delivery of humanitarian interventions to vulnerable persons, as well as promote transparency and accountability in all aspects of humanitarian delivery in the country.

The NHCC would be chaired by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouk, as well as co-chaired by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno.

Other members are Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, as well as the Ministers of Defence, Interior, Justice, and the Minister of State Budget and Planning.

The committee also has as members the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Inspector General of Police, and Governors of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States.

The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, and United Nations Resident Coordinator, among others, are also listed as members.

Adesina said the NHCC would be inaugurated by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, in due course.

Kyari, Monguno Rift Confirms There Are Many Cabals In The Presidency – Afegbua

The former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council in the 2019 general elections, Mr Kassim Afebgua, has reacted to the rift between the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr Babagana Monguno and the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Abba Kyari.

In a leaked memo dated December 2019 and published by an online website, Premium Times, Monguno accused Kyari of usurping the powers of President Muhammadu Buhari and interfering on issues of national security.

The leaked memo was sent to the service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, with the President and the Chief of Staff as well as some ministers in the copy.

READ ALSO: Presidency Keeps Mum Over Kyari, Monguno Dispute

Reacting during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Afebgua said the dispute confirms the existence of many cabals in the presidency.

The former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council in the 2019 general elections, Mr Kassin Afebgua.

“The fact that a memo or letter written by the National Security Adviser is being leaked to the public means that there is no coordination, there is no sense of organization in the presidency.

“By extension, it confirms the public perception that there are too many power blocs in the presidency, they call it cabal. Within the cabal, there are various categories. We have the one represented by the President’s uncle.

“We have the one represented by friends of the President, we have the one represented by the Chief of Staff and by this memo now, the one represented by the NSA,” he said.

According to him, it is disappointing to realize that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is not coordinated.

He recalled that when the farmers and herders clashes were rampant in Benue State, four different camps from the NSA, Mansur Dan-Ali, former Defence Minister, Ibrahim Idris, the former Inspector General of Police and Mr Abubakar Malami, the Justice Minister, gave different reasons why the conflicts occurred.

Speaking further, Afegbua explained that the varying stance on the crisis rocking the north-central states shows that “there is no synergy among the different agencies and segments within the presidency and it is like they are just fooling us.”

Presidency Keeps Mum Over Kyari, Monguno Dispute

A photo collage of the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, and the National Security Adviser, Retired Major General Babagana Monguno.

 

There appears to be an uneasy calm in the presidency regarding the revelation of a spat between the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, and the National Security Adviser, Retired Major General Babagana Monguno.

In a leaked memo dated December 2019 and published by an online website, Premium Times, Monguno accused Kyari of usurping the powers of President Muhammadu Buhari and interfering on issues of national security.

The leaked memo was sent to the service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, with the President and the Chief of Staff as well as some ministers in the copy.

READ ALSO: Buhari Attends Passing Out Parade Of New EFCC Detectives In Kaduna

Monguno claimed that Kyari was fond of giving orders to the service chiefs without the knowledge of President Buhari.

He told the service chiefs that as professionals, they should be aware that the security of Nigeria requires concerted and centralized efforts, taking into account internal, external and diplomatic factors.

He also explained that many gains recorded in the effort to secure the nation are being undermined owing to the interventions of Kyari who allegedly presides over meetings with service chiefs and heads of security agencies and diplomatic officials in the absence of the NSA.

He, therefore, directed the security chiefs not to take orders from the Kyari as he is not the head of the security forces, neither has he sworn to an oath to defend the country.

Sources in the presidency have however kept mum over the matter when channels television attempted to get their response.

Border Closure To Remain Till Objectives Are Achieved – NSA

The National Security Adviser, Retired Major General Babagana Monguno, says border closure will remain until the objectives behind the closure are achieved.

Monguno told journalists over the weekend that the ongoing joint taskforce operation which is the reason for the closure will extend beyond the 28 days earlier fixed and will last till the objectives are achieved.

READ ALSO: Nigeria’s UN Representative, Muhammad-Bande Set To Resume As President Of General Assembly

“There is no definite date or time that we will conclude this exercise and we start seeing positive results.

“This exercise is to free the country from criminal activities including smuggling and enhance the economy. It is also aimed to secure the state of livelihood,” Monguno said.

He added that the issue of insecurity is worsened by a porous border which gives room for smugglers and smuggling.

The NSA, therefore, called for cooperation and collaboration from neighbouring countries to ensure the smooth operation of the exercise.

The border closure exercise, which commenced on August 21, is carried out in four sectors of North-West, North-Central, South- West, and South-South geopolitical zones.

The operation has recorded success with over 100 illegal migrants and 117 suspected smugglers arrested. Also, 8360 bags of 50kg foreign rice have been impounded with other banned items seized.

Buhari Orders Clampdown On Illegal Security Outfits

President Muhammadu Buhari

 

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the immediate clampdown on all illegal security outfits in the country.

National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, revealed this on Tuesday while addressing a news conference in reaction of the recent crisis in Kaduna, Adamawa, Plateau and Benue states.

General Monguno added that all unlicenced and illicit acquisition of controlled items, including drones and broadcast equipment are to be reported to the appropriate security agencies.

With security challenges still popping up across the country, the National Security Adviser said the nation’s internal security situation is being reviewed.

Killings: NSA Briefs Senate Behind Closed Doors

Killings: NSA Briefs Senate Behind Closed Doors
File photo

 

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd) on Thursday met with the Senate behind closed doors.

Mr Monguno briefed the lawmakers at the Upper House of the National Assembly, on the spate of killings by terrorists, proliferation of dangerous firearms, kidnappings by hoodlums across the country.

The meeting came one week after Nigeria’s heads of security agencies led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, held a private meeting with the Senate over the security challenges in the country.

At the meeting which took place on May 23, the security chiefs and the lawmakers agreed on the need for special funding for the security agencies.

Both meetings were convened as a result of the security challenges facing the nation, especially the Boko Haram insurgency and the killings by suspected herdsmen that have claimed many lives.

At Wednesday’s plenary, Senate President Bukola Saraki had informed his colleagues that Mr Monguno would brief the Senate on the nation’s security.

He gave the hint following a point of order raised by Senator Barnabas Gemade from Benue about the condition of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in his state.

Saraki stressed the need to address urgently tackle the challenges, as a majority of the displaced persons are children.

He also asked the government to continue to play its role in giving hope to a lot of those who have found themselves in such situation by no fault of theirs.

“I think in our oversight committees should play more oversight roles in ensuring the necessary materials are made available at some of these sites.

“I have made commitments and I hope in the next few days we’ll get some donations, tables, desks for the kids and also improve the conditions of where they are being taught and even some of the other places on the camp need significant improvement,” Senator Saraki had said during the previous plenary.