President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday declared a national security emergency in response to escalating insecurity across the country, directing a large-scale recruitment drive across security agencies and authorising new measures aimed at strengthening national defence.
In a statement from the State House, the President ordered the Nigerian Police Force to enlist an additional 20,000 personnel raising the total number of planned new recruits to 50,000 and granted approval for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps to be used as temporary training centres pending the upgrade of existing police facilities.
“Today, in view of the emerging security situation, I have decided to declare a nationwide security emergency and order additional recruitment into the Armed Forces,” the President announced.
Tinubu further instructed that officers withdrawn from VIP protection duties be given expedited retraining before deployment to areas facing heightened security threats.
He also empowered the Department of State Services (DSS) to deploy specially trained forest guards and commence further recruitment to bolster operations targeting terrorists and bandits hiding in Nigeria’s forests.
“My fellow Nigerians, this is a national emergency, and we are responding by deploying more boots on the ground, especially in security-challenged areas. The times require all hands on deck,” the President stated, urging citizens to actively support nationwide security efforts.
Tinubu commended security agencies for the rescue of 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi State and 38 worshippers in Kwara State, assuring that the government remains committed to securing the release of abducted students still held in Niger State.
Calling on the National Assembly to consider legal reforms that would allow states to establish state policing structures, the President urged state and local authorities as well as religious bodies to prioritise security planning, particularly in vulnerable communities.
He also highlighted the federal government’s new Livestock Ministry, urging herders to embrace ranching, abandon open grazing, and surrender illegal weapons, stressing that these steps are essential to ending recurrent farmer-herder conflicts.
“Ranching is now the path forward for sustainable livestock farming and national harmony,” he said.
Tinubu appealed to Nigerians to remain calm and resolute, affirming that his administration will continue to support security agencies and implement measures to safeguard lives, strengthen national unity, and restore peace across the country.
