President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed not to leave government after his tenure without adequately addressing the lingering insecurity and hunger in the land.

The President made it clear that henceforth, he would be quick to effect changes anytime he noticed loopholes in the systems towards addressing the challenges of the moment.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), retired General Babagana Monguno, who addressed newsmen today, August 19, shortly after the National Security Council meeting at the Presidential villa quoted the President as saying: “he also made it very, very clear that he’s not ready to exit government as a failure.

“He is not going to tolerate that: he had made changes and is ready to make further changes if he is not satisfied. He is completely determined to ensure that there’s a turnaround in the fortunes in the theatre of operations.”

Buhari also told the Service Chiefs and other security and intelligent chiefs that he is not unaware of the prevailing widespread hunger in the country, saying: “the President is not oblivious to the pains of the people, and is working with the Vice President and other members of council: he is going to employ the relevant ministries, departments and agencies of government to address this issue.

“As far as that is concerned, it is also an emergency situation l. To him, people should not be left to wallow in hunger, and in despair. This is something that he’s also going to look into. And he is going to use all the necessary and all the relevant tools at his disposal to address the issue of widespread hunger.”

During the meeting, which was last held on June 8, 2021, security and intelligent chiefs briefed the President on the achievements in the area of the fight against the insurgents, especially with regard to Large numbers of people that have been surrendering in the Northeast as a consequence of the relentless efforts of the Armed Forces, intelligence and security agencies.

” The President is quite happy that there has been tremendous success, especially with the advent of the new service chiefs and Inspector General of Police.”

On whether the President has plans for the insurgents that have been surrendering, General Monguno said yes, but that he would “not immediately divulge what has been decided on those plans till the President takes a firm decision on the plans.

“But definitely, that is one of the things that he intends to address; the number of people coming. And it is not just in Nigeria, even in Northern Cameroon. You have equally a large number of people surrendering to the bonafide agencies of government.

“But that is all as a consequence of the regional cooperation between the various countries and the agencies of those countries.”

According to the NSA, the Council also addressed the issue in plateau State; the recent killings.

He said that the President has given certain directives to relevant bodies to address the matter even as he expressed confidence in the efforts of the Governor of plateau to deal with it.

President Muhammadu Buhari has blamed some states over the devastation of floods in their States, following continuing heavy rainfall over the last weeks, for ignoring expert warning before now.

According to the President who expressed sympathy to families and other victims, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), had before now, issued warning of flooding in specific territories and communities, but that such warnings “sadly were not only unheeded but the letters remain unacknowledged until this day.”

The President, in a statement today, August 18, by his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, regretted that as much as 32 States have so far been affected with thousands of people, homes, farm and other properties involved.

“I am constantly monitoring the situation and we will ensure that all possible help is extended to victims.”

President Buhari called for better coordination between the Federal authorities, including the NEMA and state governments to develop a culture of respect for weather forecasts, and to act upon early warnings to avert the yearly occurrence of disasters.

He commended the few states that activated their response mechanisms following the warnings and did well, thereby averting the consequent unnecessary damage and losses.

In order to carry all the states along in the administration’s determination to put an enduring system for forecasting of floods and other natural disasters through the use of technology and improved coordination, the President has approved the convention of workshop by NEMA in the coming weeks that will bring all states’ emergency response agencies to the table.

Having taken stock of the situation throughout the country, the President has also given assurances that all possible support will be extended to the victims in line with shared responsibility between the two tiers of government.

The Journalists for United Nigeria (JUN), has referred to the crisis brewing in Afghanistan despite decades of military support by powerful countries and cautioned all Nigerians to be peace-loving by defending and preserving Nigeria’s peace and security.

The group stressed that the lesson to be drawn from the situation in Afghanistan is that there is no salvation in the West or in the East; saying: “we Nigerians are the potter, we must build Nigeria with our own hands.”

In a statement today, August 17, the convener of the group, Fredrick Nwabufo, asked Nigerians to seek peace at all costs, saying that the events in the country recently call for patriots to rise up and hold the fort.

“We cannot palliate the enormity of the challenges that confront us as a people today. We have come to a point where all citizens, statesmen and women, young and old, must hold out hands and a forge a common fist to deal with these existential threats.

”We must embrace peace-building as a path to peace in our communities. We need state protection, but it is much easier when we are not propagating hate and division.

‘’Nigeria is ours. Nigeria is worth fighting for. As a peace and national unity advocate, Association of Journalists for United Nigeria (JUN) better known as Journalists for United Nigeria (JUN) calls on all Nigerians and critical stakeholders in the country to make the pursuit of peace at this tempestuous epoch in our evolution a bounden duty.

” JUN, a group committed to peace-building, national cohesion and progress, notes the agitations for secession in some sections of the country. While it is within the rights of anyone to agitate and seek self-determination, violence and coercion in any form, should not be part of any righteous advocacy.

‘’We must denounce violence in all forms by all actors. Violence should not be found among civilised human species. Violence achieves nothing but death, broken bones, and spilled blood. When agitations result in loss of lives and property, the state naturally will move to restore order.

‘’We would like to emphasise that self-determination is a universal right, but taking up arms to kill citizens and security agents pivots on the bounds of terrorism. All Nigerians should pursue constitutional means in whatever they seek. The cost of war is greater than the price of peace. There are no real victors in a war — only death and destruction.

‘’We acknowledge some of the fundamental issues behind these agitations – social inequality, poverty, unemployment, injustice and corruption. These are issues affecting all the peoples of Nigeria. Every Nigerian is marginalised. And this is a consequence of leadership failure over the years. We ask the government to look into the underlying causes of these agitations – beyond deploying force. We cannot successfully treat the metastasising cancer if we do not surgically address the root causes.

‘’We suggest that the government employ peace-building initiatives, dialogue where necessary and hold out the olive branch when practicable.

‘*Section 24b of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) says “it shall be the duty of every citizen to help to enhance the power, prestige and good name of Nigeria, defend Nigeria”. JUN draws its mandate from this section of the constitution*.

‘’Journalists for United Nigeria (JUN) is strictly non-partisan; not a pressure or lobby group, but a think-factory to connect minds in the media who are committed to a united Nigeria.

‘’We believe the media possesses some of the brightest minds. JUN is more or less a discussion forum for like-minded people. It is non-partisan; it is not a pressure group. It is not a lobby group; it is not a political group. It is a forum where journalists can converge to exchange ideas and opinions on how to strengthen national unity

‘’We need in abundance citizens who can be Nigerians. It is our view that only journalists fit into this. By virtue of being men and women of the pen, we shape opinions and narratives.  The sustenance of our unity rests largely in our hands. We must rise to the occasion and mobilise both the political class and the populace to imbibe our togetherness. We have no other country but Nigeria. Let us, through our profession, lead by example.

‘’We would like to be emphatic here; this group was conceived out of a strong desire for the peace and progress of Nigeria. We believe we are stronger together.

‘’Again, JUN is purely voluntary for Nigerian journalists. No financial rewards whatsoever; except for the psychological fulfilment that comes from knowing you are contributing to the peace and growth of your country.

‘’We appeal to all Nigerians to put the unity, peace and security of Nigeria first in their engagements, public statements and actions.”