Nuhu Ribadu, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, has officially assumed office as Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, taking over from Maj-Gen Babagana Monguno (retd).
At a brief event held in Abuja on Monday, Ribadu expressed his commitment to fulfilling the expectations of Nigerians and ensuring the safety and security of the country.
“We will stabilise this country, we will secure our country, and we will make Nigeria peaceful because we believe the time has come for this country to enjoy peace, restore order, and uphold the rule of law just like any other country in the world,” Ribadu stated upon assuming office.
Recognising that securing the nation is an ongoing process, Ribadu stressed the need to build upon previous efforts while calling for the support of all stakeholders in discharging their responsibilities and highlighted the President’s commitment to securing every part of Nigeria.
“This enormous task of securing our country is that of all Nigerians and all friends of Nigeria,” Ribadu concluded, as reported by the NSA Office.
Nuhu Ribadu, renowned as the pioneer Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, previously served as the Special Adviser on Security to President Bola Tinubu on June 15, 2023. However, in an unprecedented shake-up within the country’s security architecture, Monguno was retired as NSA, and Ribadu was elevated as his replacement just four days later.
Ribadu, born on November 21, 1960, in Adamawa State, is widely known for his tenure as EFCC boss from 2003 to 2007.
In a related development, Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday decorated the newly appointed acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Olusola Abiola, Director of Information, Office of the Vice President, in a statement in Abuja, said the ceremony was witnessed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the Presidential Villa.
President Bola Tinubu appointed Mr Adeniyi as acting CG of NCS on 19 June.
The vice president described the appointment of Mr Adeniyi by President Bola Tinubu as a morale booster for officers in the service.
“Congratulations on bringing professionalism back to the Nigerian Customs Service.
“Now, every Customs officer can aspire to occupy the pinnacle of his or her profession.
“I wish you well, on behalf of the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Congratulations, once again,” Mr Shettima said.
Speaking with State House correspondents shortly after the decoration, Mr Adeniyi expressed gratitude to Mr Tinubu for appointing a serving officer as the head of the agency.
He assured the president and Nigerians of a more effective and innovation-driven NCS.
“In the last eight years, the NCS has gone through a period of transition; in some areas, we recorded progress – we made remarkable progress in e-Customs.
“We made a lot of breakthroughs in capacity building, but the NCS can still live to its full potential when we bring in more innovation to drive Customs operations.
“These are the kind of things we are looking at in the years ahead; we are going to be professional in our approach; there are a number of key stakeholders that we are going to be working with.
“It is a very onerous task, but we are going to be working alongside other stakeholders and partners that we have identified.
“We intend to come up with innovations that will carry along all partners and stakeholders,” he said.
Mr Adeniyi added that the service would leverage technology and innovation to break new ground in its operations.
