President Muhammadu Buhari has said the security challenges confronting the nation tend to stretch the deployment of security agencies, resources and national security apparatus.
The President said this Friday in Abuja when he launched the National Crisis Management Doctrine (NCMD), aimed at bridging the gap created by extensive deployment of security services through fostering collaboration amongst Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
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The NCMD, which was developed by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in coordination with relevant MDAs, would ensure greater successes in tackling national crisis.
Buhari recalled that at the inception of his administration, Nigeria was faced with multiple security challenges ranging from terrorism, kidnapping, to armed banditry, ethnic militia attacks, oil theft, rape, gun running and various acts emanating from violent extremism.
‘‘The emergence of the Boko Haram terrorist group as well as bandits and kidnappers in Nigeria considerably changed the country’s security situation leaving panic in the minds of the populace.
‘‘These and other security challenges confronting the nation tend to stretch the deployment of our security agencies, resources and national security apparatus.
‘‘Owing to the dynamics of these crises, the Office of the National Security Adviser revised the National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) which I endorsed in August 2016.
‘‘Within this strategy are certain works streams which include the Prepare and Implement strands that seek to mitigate the impact of terrorist attacks by building resilience and redundancies to ensure continuity of business; and a framework for the mobilisation of coordinated cross-government efforts respectively.
‘‘I am glad that the Office of the National Security Adviser has not relented in its efforts to implement the NACTEST by coordinating relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to develop the National Crisis Management Doctrine,’’ he said in a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina.
The President, while speaking at the launch, commended the efforts of the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (Rtd), his staff and members of the working group from various responder MDAs for the remarkable work in developing the doctrine.
He described the feat as a significant milestone in recognition of the need for collective efforts towards achieving coordinated, effective and efficient national crisis management.
President Buhari, who said this showed the renewed promise and commitment of the administration to managing crisis in the country, urged ONSA to continue to play its coordinating role amongst crisis response stakeholders, to achieve greater successes.
President Buhari also thanked the British government for its collaboration in the development of the Doctrine as well as the United States government for its support, urging them to sustain the relationship.
In his remarks, the NSA said work on the doctrine started in 2014 but was given impetus after the President endorsed the revised NACTEST, which has five work streams namely: Forestall, Secure, Identify, Prepare and Implement.
Monguno said the doctrine provided a detailed methodology for national crises response, outlining how the various relevant MDAs should interact at the strategic, operational and tactical levels.
He added that the NCMD could be used to manage both malicious threats and civil emergencies owing to the general principles set out within it.
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