By Adeleye Kunle
President Muhammadu Buhari called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council this week to discuss the nation’s security challenges as a result of recent terrorist attacks.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), suspected terrorists attacked the presidential advance team to Katsina State on Tuesday night, as well as the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje, where high-profile Boko Haram inmates escaped.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, some cabinet ministers, and all security and service chiefs were present at the security meeting.
Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff to the President, also attended the meeting.
Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, the Chief of Naval Staff, was present at the meeting.
The attack on the convoy of cars carrying the advance team of security guards, protocol and media officers ahead of Buhari’s trip to Daura for Sallah was described as “sad and unwelcome” by the Presidency.
On July 6, the President paid a visit to the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje, which had been attacked by terrorists, and expressed his dissatisfaction with the country’s intelligence system.
“I am disappointed with the intelligence system,” he said. “How can terrorists organize, have weapons, and attack a security installation and escape?”
Later that day, the president flew to Dakar, Senegal, to attend the inauguration of “the largest financial package” of 93 billion dollars ever mobilized in the history of the International Development Association (IDA).
The IDA fund aims to create a “robust and resilient African economy.”
Before leaving for Dakar, the president swore in seven new Ministers who also serve on the Federal Executive Council.
The president announced the reassignment of portfolios in his cabinet during the swearing-in ceremony, which preceded the virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
According to him, the new redeployment is aimed at reinvigorating certain sectors where the government wishes to achieve better results, stating that while his administration is nearing the end of its second term, more work remains to be done in various areas of the economy and national life.
Ikechukwu Ikoh, Minister of State for Science and Technology; Umana Umana, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs; Udi Odum, Minister of State for Environment; and Ademola Adegoroye, Minister of State for Transport, are the newly appointed ministers and their portfolios.
Umar El-Yakub, Minister of State for Works and Housing; Goodluck Opiah, Minister of State for Education; and Nkama Ekumankama, Minister of State for Health are the others.
The FEC also agreed to spend N22 billion to build a conference hostel for the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board.
The facility will be located across the street from the National Content building in Yenegoa, the capital of Bayelsa.
Immediately following the FEC meeting, Buhari presented the flag to Gov. Adegboyega Oyetola, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the upcoming elections in Osun.
He assured that the party was committed to advancing the state’s development journey.
The president praised Oyetola’s performance during a ceremonial presentation at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday.
The president wrapped up the week by visiting his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir festival.
In his Sallah message on July 8, Buhari reassured Nigerians that his administration would continue to address the country’s current security challenges and living costs, saying, “I won’t rest until I bring relief to Nigerians.”
“I am well aware of the difficulties that people are experiencing and am working hard to resolve them,” the president added.
He urged Nigerians, however, to put the country’s interests ahead of their own and “use religion as a motivation for the love of our common humanity.”
While in Daura, the president observed Eid prayer with hundreds of Muslim faithful, and later hosted members of the National Youth Service Corps serving in his country home, Daura, Katsina State, on Saturday.
For the celebration, the president gave the corps members two bulls, ten rams, and N1 million
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