Retired Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, former Chief of Army Staff, believes Nigeria’s security outlook will improve significantly within the next two years of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He made this statement on Tuesday in Abuja during a chat with journalists at the 2025 VON Forum.
Buratai acknowledged that every country faces its own security challenges, even developed nations. He explained that insecurity cannot simply vanish, just like other social problems such as theft, rape, and armed robbery. These issues, he said, are tied to human behavior and will always exist in some form.
However, he expressed confidence that the lessons learned from recent security challenges would lead to better strategies by Nigeria’s armed forces and other security agencies, including the police. He emphasized that tackling insecurity requires a continuous, responsive approach.
According to Buratai, the solution doesn’t rest solely with the Federal Government. He stressed the need for cooperation among all levels of government—federal, state, and local—as well as active citizen participation. He said this collective effort is part of what forums like the VON event aim to inspire.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening institutions and developing skilled personnel. According to him, Nigeria has both national security and defense policies in place, but the real task lies in implementing them properly. He added that coordination between different bodies is essential for effective execution.
