Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), warned the new terror organization Lakurawas of the dangers of invading sections of the northwest, saying yesterday that no one challenges President Bola Tinubu and that nothing has changed.
This occurred on the same day that General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff (or CDS), sent a force to the unstable Augie Local Government Area in Kebbi State, where terrorists massacred at least 17 people in Mera village.
Speaking at the Comptroller-General of Customs conference in Abuja, Mallam Ribadu promised that the Federal Government would soon punish the group for defying the President.
The president’s NSA representative at the meeting stated: “The new group, Lakurawa, or whatever they call themselves, have made a mistake. This is Nigeria of 2024, we will finish them.
“No one challenges Tinubu and prevails. Nobody ever defeats Tinubu in a battle. We are executing the terrorists who were present in various regions of the nation.
Many of the areas where they were operating are silent. There is stillness where Boko Haram used to operate. Many of them are turning themselves in, and they have escaped to the Niger Republic.
There is quiet in the Niger Delta. We are now able to produce 1.8 million barrels per day as a result. There is silence if you go to the southeast.
“A lot of things are going on in our nation right now. We want to refer to certain things as Tinubu’s reforms and gains.
Nigerians will witness everything from this point on. A few things are already taking place. For this reason, I am happy to see our General here (referring to Gen. Christopher Musa) who also graced the occasion, leading others in the security sector.
“The leaders of the entire security sector, including the civil police, intelligence community, and military forces, are cooperating as a single entity for the first time in our nation’s history. We are more united as a team than ever before. And the benefits are starting to become apparent. We refer to these as Tinubu’s gains.
Every day, hundreds of bandits are slaughtered. Because of Tinubu’s achievements, you can now travel anywhere in our nation without worry. Things are evolving.
“Whatever they are named, these so-called Lakurawas are doing something wrong. No one ever challenges Tinubu and prevails. They arrived at the wrong moment. Tinubu has never been defeated. We’re going to beat them. Lakurawa, you will be expelled from Nigeria.
Today, there is peace in many areas of our nation. Visit the Delta of Niger. We are now producing 1.80 million barrels of crude oil every day. Tinubu’s gains are something we haven’t seen in a long time. The South-East is beginning to find harmony with both the rest of our nation and itself.
The bandits are fleeing in all directions. People are giving up every day. There are still locations where bandits are being turned in. It is occurring daily and will continue to do so. Let’s wait and find out. We will silence critics. That’s what we’ll do.
Since the majority of Boko Haram members have fled to Chad, the president of Chad has declared war on them as the group’s time is running out. If you are aware of what has been happening in Chad during the past week. We are standing our ground despite the challenges we have faced in Niger and a few other locations.
Additionally, Mallam Ribadu said that the unification of foreign exchange rates has choked up the flow of free money for the wealthy from foreign exchange transactions.
In contrast to Tinubu’s earnings in 2023, the Central Bank of Nigeria is pure and no one is profiting from it. Additionally, the naira will stabilize. Watch and see. It will arrive. Additionally, as I mentioned, we collaborate as a team, all of us,’’ the NSA said.
He said President Tinubu was being sought after by many nations across the globe as more countries were eager to do business with Nigeria.
“The entire world is searching for President Tinubu today,” he remarked. I recently returned from India. On the 15th, the German president and prime minister will arrive. He’s been invited to the G20.
We have already returned to the BRICS group, which stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The French president is trying to find him. More than 20 people have asked him to come. Additionally, a lot of people are excited to visit this place.
He commended the CG of Customs for surpassing the 2024 goal by collecting more over N5 trillion in less than 11 months.
“You just heard what the friendly Bashir (CG Adeniyi) told us. We are surpassing N5 trillion, Tinubu’s gain, for the first time. Even though we are only a year and seven months old, it is occurring everywhere.
They should wait till 2025. It will occur. We’ll protect this nation. We’ll make it right. We’re not fools. Tinubu is not a failure. With him, there has never been a failure. We’ll make our nation better. Nigeria will rise once more, something of which we may be proud.
Additionally, Ribadu said that Lt. Gen. Taofeek Lagbaja, the late Chief of Army Staff, was a devoted and dedicated commander who would be sorely missed.
“You know, we lost one of us, and it was really painful,” he said. President Tinubu and I both personally know that we lost Lagbaja. An very decent individual who is devoted, honest, and loyal. He did a good job serving his nation.
Many others are similar to him. We have never had a team like this, I believe. Unexpectedly, folks are unaware of how we came to be a family. Among them are those employed by President Tinubu. We work together. We’ll put forth the effort and get things done. We’re going to make this location different. Soon, it will be over. We’re not athletes. Politics will be played, I promise, but before long, critics won’t have anything to discuss.
Customs exceeds its N5.07 trillion 2024 revenue target
Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), stated in his speech that the agency had collected more than N5.079 trillion and was on track to surpass the revenue target for 2024 by almost 10%.
He added that by documenting the seizure of numerous banned commodities with duty-paid values above N28 billion, his team was able to enhance their workload.
The CG voiced alarm over the high rate of management departures, stating that 60% of the agency’s management left in 2022, 36% in 2023, and 40% in 2024, with the percentage potentially reaching considerably higher levels by the end of the year.
According to the Customs CG, he established a Customs University to promote the NCS’s human capital growth.
CDS sends soldiers to Kebbi
General Christopher Gwabin Musa, the Chief of Defense Staff, has sent a group of troops to Kebbi State’s unstable Augie local government in an attempt to drive out members of the new terror group, Lakurawa.
Remember how last week the terror gang killed at least 17 people in Mera village in the local government area?
The deployment followed Kebbi State Governor Dr. Nasir Idris’s Save Our Soul, or SOS, appeal for immediate assistance to halt the new terror group’s slaughter.
Armed with lethal weaponry and armored tanks upon arrival, the troops met with Senator Umar Tafida, the state’s deputy governor, before moving on to Mera, where they promptly sprang into action and saved all the cows that had been abandoned by the armed group due to heavy military firepower.
Abdullahi Idris Zuru, the governor’s media adviser on strategy and communication, claims that the deployment is unavoidable since the new armed groups are making life intolerable for Kebbi State’s rural residents.
The governor’s aide stated, “The governor pledged in his oath to guarantee the security of lives and property of people of Kebbi State wherever they are, hence the reason to seek the intervention of the central government to stem terrorism in all parts of the state.”