The Northern Farmers Association (NFA) has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, for their remarkable strides in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
In a statement released on Friday in Abuja, the association’s spokesperson, Yakubu Ibrahim Lere, praised Dr. Matawalle’s pivotal role in implementing President Tinubu’s comprehensive security directives, which have significantly enhanced national stability.
According to Lere, the NFA’s assessment of the security landscape revealed that Dr. Matawalle has been instrumental in executing strategies that have led to a notable reduction in terrorist activities and other criminal threats across the country.
“Since President Tinubu appointed Dr. Matawalle as Minister of State for Defence, significant strides have been made in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges,” Lere stated.
“His leadership has prioritised joint and collaborative efforts, creating an atmosphere conducive for the Armed Forces to work together and achieve targets without rivalry.”
The farmers praised Matawalle’s approach, which blended kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, noting that it had proven effective in various conflict zones across the country.
Lere also highlighted improvements in intelligence-gathering capabilities under Matawalle’s leadership, leading to more precise and effective operations against insurgents and criminal elements.
“One notable outcome of his leadership was the operation in Sokoto last year, which resulted in the elimination of the notorious bandit leader Alhaji Halilu Sububu and thousands of other bandits nationwide. This sent a clear message to those attempting to undermine Nigeria that their mission is doomed,” Lere said.
He further noted that the current leadership had curbed economic sabotage in the oil sector, achieving 99% of Nigeria’s Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) production quota of 1.5 million barrels per day for the first time in years.
The spokeperson commended the innovative strategies introduced under Matawalle, which focus on addressing the root causes of insecurity through economic empowerment, education, and social development initiatives in conflict-prone areas. He said these efforts had reduced the appeal of insurgent recruitment.
“As an organisation focused on safeguarding farmers and others, we are particularly impressed by the emphasis Dr. Matawalle has placed on ending insecurity across the country,” he stated.
