The country’s current financial crisis, according to National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, is the result of bankruptcy that President Bola Tinubu’s administration inherited. However, Ribadu asserted that the federal government would take all necessary steps to guarantee the existence of a strong and functional defence management and apparatus, even in spite of the financial constraints that have affected budgetary allocations.
At the Chief of Defence Intelligence Annual Conference 2023 in Abuja, the National Security Advisor made these statements during his speech on the topic of “Leveraging Defence Diplomacy, and Effective Regional Collaboration for Enhanced National Security.”
Ribadu claims that the current leadership of the military forces has demonstrated a serious commitment to addressing the ongoing security difficulties facing the nation, and he also notes that there have been advances and good changes both inside and outside of Nigeria.
The NSA also mentioned how the coups in Burkina Faso, Niger, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, and Niger had caused abrupt changes in those nations’ democratic fortunes, but pointed out that the main goal of defence diplomacy was to pursue strategic engagement with partners and allies at the bilateral and multilateral levels while guaranteeing the achievement of goals related to national security.
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According to the NSA, “Even in the face of severe budgetary constraints, the federal government will not rest on its laurels in ensuring a robust and viable defence management and security apparatus to address contemporary challenges.”
“Yes, we’re facing budgetary constraints. It is okay for me to tell you. Fine, it is important for you to know that we have inherited a very difficult situation, literally a bankrupt country, no money, to a point where we can say that all the money we’re getting now, we’re paying back what was taken. It is serious!
“But this administration is doing its best to meet our requirements, particularly the armed forces, and I believe that you leaders will be able to testify to that,” the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission told the gathering”.
