President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on Nigeria’s Armed Forces to embrace transformational leadership, technology and continuous adaptation in confronting the country’s evolving security challenges.
Tinubu made the call on Wednesday in Abuja while commending the service of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd.), at the public presentation of Military Transformational Leadership in Action:
The Buratai Era, authored by Dr. M.S. Abubakar. The President’s speech was delivered on his behalf by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mrs Bekearedebo Augusta Warrens.
The event, held at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre and Suites, Asokoro, Abuja, attracted serving and retired military officers, government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional rulers, academics, business leaders and other stakeholders.
The President described the documentation of Nigeria’s military history and institutional experiences as an important national responsibility, saying nations that preserve the experiences of their institutions and leaders provide valuable resources for succeeding generations.
He said the book was particularly relevant for documenting the Buratai era and contributing to discussions on military leadership, institutional reform and national security.
According to Tinubu, Buratai’s tenure as Chief of Army Staff coincided with one of the most demanding periods in Nigeria’s security history, characterised by terrorism, insurgency and other asymmetric threats.
He noted that the period tested the leadership, discipline, courage, innovation and adaptability of the Nigerian military.
“Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai, and the officers and men who served under his command were called upon to confront these challenges under extremely demanding circumstances. Their service forms an important part of Nigeria’s contemporary military history,” he said.
Tinubu noted that the publication went beyond battlefield operations to examine doctrine, training, morale, logistics, troop welfare, institutional development and civil-military relations.
He stressed that transformational leadership was not only about winning battles but also about building institutions capable of responding effectively to changing realities and preparing the next generation of leaders.
The President said Nigeria’s security environment had continued to evolve, with terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, violent criminality, oil theft and organised crime posing serious threats to national peace and development.
He disclosed that the Federal Government was strengthening intelligence gathering, inter-agency coordination, surveillance, logistics and the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
He also said the administration was pursuing a more coordinated national security architecture, including a comprehensive national threat assessment and a rolling five-year strategic defence operations plan.
Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to modernising the Armed Forces through investments in equipment, technology and human capacity, stressing that emerging security challenges could not be effectively confronted with outdated tools and methods.
He, however, emphasised that technology and equipment alone could not guarantee national security, noting that successful military operations depended on personnel who demonstrate courage, discipline, professionalism and sacrifice.
The President commended soldiers, sailors, airmen and women, police officers and other security personnel serving under difficult conditions, while calling for sustained attention to their welfare, training, morale and professional development, as well as that of their families.
He urged security institutions to continuously learn, adapt and transform in response to changing threats.
On the lessons of the Buratai era, Tinubu called for the period to be studied critically and objectively, with its successes understood, difficulties examined and relevant lessons applied to present and future security challenges.
He further stressed that military action was only one component of sustainable national security, identifying intelligence, effective policing, justice, border management, community engagement, economic opportunity and a strong security industry as other critical elements.
“Security is therefore a collective responsibility,” the President said, calling for cooperation among government, security agencies, communities, traditional and religious leaders, the private sector, civil society and the media.
Tinubu assured Nigerians that his administration would continue to provide the political support, resources and strategic direction required to strengthen the country’s security institutions.
He commended Buratai for his years of service to Nigeria and congratulated the author, publishers and organisers of the publication, saying the ultimate value of the book would lie not only in what it records about the past but also in the lessons it provides for the future.
The book, according to reports ahead of its presentation, examines leadership decisions, institutional reforms and security challenges during Buratai’s tenure as Army Chief, with emphasis on the relationship between military leadership, institutional transformation and national security.
