President Bola Tinubu has disclosed that insecurity in the country threatens his administration quest to transform Nigeria to a $1 trillion economy.
In a statement signed by Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Tinubu said the ‘enemies of progress’ poses a threat to the plan to rejig the country’s economy.
There is an urgent need to put an end to the menace, Tinubu said, adding that he would not accept any excuse from security agencies, saying “failure is not an option under my leadership.”
The president, after coming to office in May this year, promised to raise the bar from the over $400 billion economy left by his predecessors, to the $1 trillion mark.
That projection is now being threatened by the security situation in the country, Tinubu said on Friday, while addressing top security chiefs in the country.
Security experts insist that the problem of insecurity, particularly in the south east and northern parts of the country, for instance, is likely to have ripple effect on the economy.
Last August, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Engr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, claimed that the south east region was losings trillions of naira due to the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, the group blamed for the spate of killing and kidnapping in the region.
Also, in the northern part of the country security agencies are struggling to nip in the bud threats by bandits and terrorists, which according to security experts have put the ‘nation’s food basket’ in peril.
Speaking yesterday during a briefing by the security topnotch, which include Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser, NSA and Service Chiefs yesterday in Aso Rock, Nigeria’s seat of power, President Tinubu ordered them to quash the multi-dimensional security problems to save Nigeria from serious economic problems.
Tinubu said, “we are pursuing a $1 trillion economy in the next few years, and our efforts will be undermined if we do not finally wrap up our progressive onslaught against enemies of progress. Be encouraged. The confidence of our people in your capacity is rising, and they are appreciative of the sacrifices of our men and women.
“The success you are recording is undeniable. Nigerians are seeing it, but the avoidable errors, as witnessed recently in Kaduna, are unacceptable and cannot be repeated. I am pleased that coordination between all agencies has dramatically improved over recent months, but there is no room for celebrations until we can end this; until we can bring our troops back to their own localities, and until we can free up resources for our critical economic expansion programme.
“I do not play with my intelligence reports. I have multiple lines of sight. The Navy and sister branches must step up their game to achieve our aims for the benefit of all Nigerians. All malign actors will be aggressively uprooted from our midst. Those working against the national agenda from within and without will meet justice. Your task is clear. We will sustain our momentum. Failure is not an option under my leadership,” Tinubu stated.
