Olushola Omogbehin
Following a phone call with French President, Emmanuel Macron on Saturday, President Bola Tinubu on Sunday in Lagos said Nigeria has secured French collaboration on military equipment and training.
President Tinubu revealed this during a meeting with state governors at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos, where he observed the Eid-el-Fitr holidays after returning from his two-day state visit to the United Kingdom.
According to Tinubu, Nigeria is ready to use its goodwill to acquire necessary equipment and training for security forces in the fight against terrorism.
“I can report to you, yesterday again, at a lengthy discussion with Emmanuel Macron, their collaboration with us for equipment and support.
“I’m making frantic efforts to contact other nations. If we have to spend our goodwill and line of credit, we have those who are willing to support us with equipment and training. The next phase of our struggle is staring us in the face; it is the challenge of insecurity in this country.
“I’m making all the efforts to ensure it is us collectively that we share the joy and be proud of victory over tyranny,” Tinubu said.
He also said that one of the major discussions during his state visit to the UK was on military equipment acquisition.
“One of the major discussions in the UK is equipment. I can report to you, yesterday again, at a lengthy discussion with Emmanuel Macron, their collaboration with us for equipment and support,” he stated.
President Tinubu said partnership with the United Kingdom is important because it will help Nigeria to further confront terrorism challenges in West Africa.
He said Nigeria and the UK, already sealed new export agreements and deepening cooperation on security matters.
Speaking on economic challenges, he acknowledged that the Middle East crisis would affect inflation and purchasing power in Nigeria.
“I know this Middle East crisis will elicit inflation and will affect our purchasing power.
“The labour union and others will be gathering to support them because of the effect of the Middle East war and prices at the pumps, resulting in transportation problems and food prices,” he stated.
Tinubu admonished the governors to focus on caring for the needy in their states, stating that while they are all doing well, they can do better.
He extended condolences to Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State over last Monday’s bombings.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to investing in technology and equipment to defeat terrorism and other security threats across the country.
“We must defeat terrorism and all of these criminal acts. As our investment in technology and equipment, we must defeat them,” he declared.
