Tinubu unveils five-year plan to tackle Boko Haram and improve security

President Bola Tinubu has rolled out a five-year plan to end the 17-year Boko Haram insurgency and address other security issues in Nigeria. The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council shared this news.

Reports say Nigeria's security challenges have pushed Mr. Tinubu to introduce reforms. These include recruiting more personnel, expanding military commands, creating state police, and investing in military equipment and infrastructure.

Boko Haram has been a problem for 17 years, spreading from the North-east to the North-central and South-west regions. There have been two recent attacks where Boko Haram kidnapped schoolchildren, as noted in reports.

The military believes its ongoing offensive against Boko Haram is helping to curb the group's growth. Yet, terrorist groups keep taking advantage of weak security and local issues, gaining a foothold and continuing to harm communities.

The five-year plan

The plan aims to boost Nigeria's security system, enhance military performance, and create a united front against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other crimes.

Dele Alake, spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, announced this on Sunday. He said the plan will align defense needs, military development, and spending with Nigeria's current and future security challenges.

Mr. Alake, who is also the Minister of Solid Minerals, noted the Tinubu government has eliminated over 15,000 Boko Haram fighters and bandits in the last three years. More than 130,000 Boko Haram fighters and their families have surrendered through Operation Safe Corridor, a program aimed at rehabilitating former insurgents.

National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu shared similar statistics at an APC summit.

Mr. Alake said these numbers show the administration's two-part approach to fighting insecurity, mixing military action with non-violent methods.

To improve military operations, Mr. Tinubu has set up four new Nigerian Army divisions and reorganized current military units to respond faster to security threats.

The president has also approved two new army depots in Osogbo, Osun State, and Amasiri-Edda, Ebonyi State. These will help with recruitment and training.

Each depot will train 6,000 recruits, making a total of 12,000 soldiers that can be trained at once.

Currently, the Osogbo depot has 5,210 recruits in training, according to Mr. Alake.

The government has also given the green light to recruit 28,000 soldiers and 50,000 police officers to boost military and internal security forces.

On military housing and personnel welfare, Mr. Alake mentioned a 700-unit barracks project in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State. This is meant to provide homes and support for military staff in the area.

The five-year security plan will also focus on intelligence, surveillance, and coordination. Government spending will be guided by identified security threats and national priorities.

Mr. Alake believes this plan will improve readiness for combat, fill essential gaps, make better use of resources, and cut down on waste.

However, he did not give a specific start date for the plan, its total cost, or how it will be funded.