President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said the experience of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai, offers valuable lessons for addressing Nigeria’s current and future security challenges.
Tinubu stated this on Wednesday in Abuja in a speech delivered on his behalf by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mrs Bekearedebo Augusta Warrens.
Warrens represented the President at the public presentation of Military Transformational Leadership in Action: The Buratai Era, authored by M.S. Abubakar, held at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre and Suites, Asokoro, Abuja.
The event attracted serving and retired military officers, government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional rulers, academics, business leaders and journalists.
Tinubu congratulated the author, the Buratai Legacy Presentation Committee and the publishers, stressing the importance of preserving Nigeria’s military history for future generations.
He said the documentation of Buratai’s tenure as Chief of Army Staff would provide useful lessons for present and future military commanders and policymakers.
“Nations that preserve the experience of their institutions and leaders create valuable resources from which succeeding generations can learn,” the President said.
According to him, Buratai’s tenure came during a difficult period when the country faced terrorism, insurgency and other asymmetric security threats, placing significant demands on the Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Army.
He said the period tested leadership, discipline, courage, innovation and the ability of the military to adapt to changing security realities.
Tinubu noted that the book examined military leadership beyond battlefield operations, covering areas including doctrine, training, morale, logistics, troop welfare, institutional development and civil-military relations.
He said transformational leadership involved not only winning battles but also building institutions capable of responding to emerging threats and preparing future 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 challenges 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.
Tinubu also said the government was pursuing a more coordinated national security architecture, including a comprehensive national threat assessment and a rolling five-year strategic defence operations plan.
He said investments were being made in modern equipment, technology and personnel development, stressing that emerging threats could not be effectively tackled with outdated tools and methods.
However, the President said equipment and technology alone could not guarantee national security, noting the importance of courage, discipline, professionalism and sacrifice among security personnel.
He acknowledged the sacrifices of soldiers, airmen and women, police officers and personnel of other security agencies serving across the country, often under difficult conditions and away from their families.
Tinubu called for sustained attention to the welfare, training, morale and professional development of security personnel and their families.
He urged Nigerians to study the Buratai era critically and objectively, saying its successes and difficulties could provide lessons for addressing contemporary and future security challenges.
The President further said military action remained only one component of sustainable national security, identifying intelligence, effective policing, justice, border management, community engagement and economic opportunities as other critical areas.
He described security as a collective responsibility requiring cooperation among government, security agencies, communities, traditional and religious leaders, the private sector, civil society and the media.
Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security institutions and providing the necessary political support, resources and strategic direction for national defence.
He also commended Buratai for his years of service to the country and congratulated the author and organisers of the book presentation.
The President expressed hope that the publication would inspire present and future commanders, military professionals, policymakers and Nigerians to view leadership as a responsibility centred on service, sacrifice and the preservation of the national interest.