Sahel Instability: FG Assures Nigerians Abroad of Stronger Security, Border Protection
The Federal Government has assured Nigerians in the diaspora that it is intensifying efforts to strengthen national security and border management amid growing instability across the Sahel region.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), gave the assurance during an interactive session with members of the Nigerian community in Angola on the sidelines of the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) in Luanda.
A statement by Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Defence, Leah Katung-Babatunde today in Abuja.
The statement said the meeting provided an opportunity for members of the Nigerian community to raise concerns with government officials and receive responses on issues affecting their welfare and engagement with Nigeria.
The Nigerian delegation to the AU Summit was led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
Musa said President Tinubu remained committed to tackling security threats across the country, adding that the government was expanding the numerical strength and operational capacity of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies.
“Every sector is receiving targeted interventions to enhance our national security framework,” the Defence Minister said.
He, however, linked some of Nigeria’s security challenges to instability in the Sahel, warning that threats from the region could spill across national borders.
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“Some of our ongoing challenges stem from regional instability in the Sahel, which trickles across our borders. However, comprehensive border management measures are actively being implemented to curb these incursions,” he said.
The Minister also said the government was strengthening the use of reliable data in national security strategies and development planning, assuring that efforts to restore lasting peace and stability remained ongoing.
He said the measures were intended not only to improve domestic security but also to create a safer environment for Nigerians in the diaspora who visit or return to the country.
Also at the engagement were the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; and Acting Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Mission in Angola, Ambassador Maxy Ogbede.
Tunji-Ojo highlighted recent efforts to strengthen data protection and identity management systems, saying improved collaboration among government agencies was already producing measurable results.
Dabiri-Erewa assured Nigerians abroad that NiDCOM remained committed to supporting their welfare and creating opportunities for them to contribute to national development.
Musa also commended the Nigerian community in Angola for maintaining a harmonious relationship with the Nigerian diplomatic mission.
The engagement formed part of the Nigerian delegation’s activities during the AU Summit and underscored the Federal Government’s emphasis on stronger security, border protection and sustained engagement with Nigerians in the diaspora.
By PRNigeria
