President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reassured Nigerians that recent efforts to restructure the nation’s security architecture will soon begin to deliver tangible results, stressing that addressing insecurity requires cooperation from all segments of society.
The President gave the assurance on Friday while receiving a delegation of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), led by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, at his residence in Lagos. The meeting was confirmed in a statement issued by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Tinubu said his administration remains firmly committed to the establishment of state and community policing as a long-term solution to Nigeria’s security challenges. According to him, the initiative will take off once the National Assembly completes the necessary legislative processes.
While acknowledging the scale of the problem, the President said Nigeria’s vast ungoverned spaces continue to pose serious security concerns. He, however, expressed confidence that the situation can be overcome through collective vigilance, cooperation, and faith.
“The challenge is real, but we will surmount it. We are a deeply religious people and prayer warriors, but we also need focus, vigilance, and cooperation from everyone,” Tinubu said.
The President also highlighted the logistical and financial constraints facing security operations, noting that military equipment is expensive and often not immediately available. He disclosed that Nigeria has placed orders for four attack helicopters from the United States, which will take time to be delivered, while support has also been sought from Turkey.
Tinubu admitted that delays in visible security outcomes have affected public perception of his government’s resolve but insisted that efforts to restore peace remain unwavering, despite the guerrilla-style tactics of bandits and insurgents.
Referring to the recent abduction and subsequent release of schoolchildren in Niger and Kebbi states, the President urged Nigerians to remain alert, adding that the safe return of victims should take precedence over public debates on how such outcomes were achieved.
“The rhetoric surrounding how the children were released or what happened to the kidnappers is secondary; the end justifies the means,” he said.
In his response, Archbishop Daniel Okoh pledged the full support of the Christian community for the President and his administration, describing Tinubu as “our President” who deserves the backing of the Church.
He commended the President’s commitment to tackling Nigeria’s socio-economic and security challenges, describing the task as daunting but expressing confidence in Tinubu’s leadership capacity.
“We are assured of your sagacity, and the Christian community is committed to ensuring that you succeed,” Okoh said.
The CAN President also noted that Tinubu’s engagement with the Church has helped to bridge gaps between the government and religious bodies, a move he described as unprecedented. He further appealed for direct engagement with CAN structures across the country’s 774 local government areas and requested the release of funds to the Christian Pilgrims’ Board to enable it carry out its mandate.
Other members of the CAN delegation included the association’s Vice President, Rev. Dr Stephen Panya Baba; President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Francis Wale Oke; and representatives of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches, the Catholic and Methodist blocs, as well as the CAN Chairman in Lagos State, Bishop Stephen Adegbite.
