UPDATED: I trust you to deliver, Tinubu tells security chiefs

The National Security Adviser and the acting Inspector General of Police were instructed by President Bola Tinubu on Monday to work together and fulfill their mandates.

Assuring the President and Nigerians that the security agencies would succeed in safeguarding the nation and establishing peace and stability, NSA Mallam Nuhu Ribadu said as much.

Monday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, President Tinubu had his first private meeting with the NSA, the Service Chiefs, and the acting IGP.

The President instructed them to operate as a team and fulfill their mandate, according to Mallam Ribadu, the NSA, who briefed state house reporters after the meeting.

Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, he said, “We’re here to thank Mr President for the opportunity he gave us to serve our country and to serve his own government. We also pledged our loyalty to him, Nigeria and Nigerians.

“We believe the choice he made is the right one, the correct one, and we know what he wants for this country.

“We’re going to work tirelessly to ensure that we accomplish that objective of securing our country, establishing peace, stability and let’s get our lives back.

“He gave us the assurance that he’s with us hundred percent. He told us that we must work as a team and that there’s work to be done; he’ll expect us to deliver and we’re grateful for the opportunity. That’s why we are here.”

Asked what will be the starting point of the new security heads, Mallam said, “Where we are today and you can see already things are improving in our country.

“If you see the record of crimes and activities of criminals are going down, it will continue to go down. We’ll secure this place.

“Nigerians have seen the quality of the people that are given opportunity, they are probably some of the best we have and they are not going to fail you, they’ll certainly deliver.”