Tajuddeen Abbas

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has called for tighter border controls and warned that Nigeria’s porous borders leave it vulnerable to spillover crises from other West African nations.

Speaking at a lecture titled ‘National Resilience and Security in the 21st Century’ at the National Defence College in Abuja, Abbas stressed the need for stronger regional cooperation and internal cohesion to tackle security threats.

“Porous borders mean Nigeria’s security is tied to that of its neighbours,” he said.

He advocated for joint patrols, regional standby forces, and initiatives like grazing corridors to enhance stability.

The Speaker highlighted challenges across Africa, including insurgencies, coups, economic instability, and climate change, but noted the continent’s resilience, citing recovery efforts in Rwanda and Sierra Leone.

He outlined a three-phase strategy for national resilience: mitigation (preventive measures), adaptation (crisis response), and recovery (rebuilding).

He pointed to Nigeria’s National Security Strategy and Disaster Management Framework as key tools but urged deeper inter-agency collaboration.

Abbas also emphasized ECOWAS’ role in crisis management, referencing past interventions in Liberia and The Gambia, while acknowledging recent coups as a test for the bloc.

“True resilience requires political will, resources, and public preparedness,” he said. “By strengthening security and resilience together, Nigeria can safeguard its future.”

By Uzair Adam 

Amid speculations of discontent within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), key loyalists of former President Muhammadu Buhari have reaffirmed their support for President Bola Tinubu and pledged to remain in the party.

The group, operating under the Forum of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), made the declaration in Abuja on Thursday, countering reports that some Buhari allies were planning to exit the APC.

Those present at the meeting included Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda, Niger State Governor Umar Bago’s representative, former Nasarawa State Governor Senator Tanko Al-Makura, former Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari, and Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Gen. Buba Marwa (retd).

Other notable figures in attendance were former Voice of Nigeria Director General Osita Okechukwu, former presidential aide Okoi Obono Obla, former APC National Secretary Waziri Bulama, ex-lawmaker Farouk Adamu, a representative of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and Foreign Affairs Minister Maitama Tuggar.

The forum emphasised that although individuals are free to pursue personal political interests, they should not do so under the guise of representing former CPC members.

Responding to whether the bloc would support Tinubu beyond the current administration, Hon. Farouk Adamu expressed confidence, saying, “We are with Tinubu just like our leader (Buhari), and it is our hope that Tinubu continues to remain our leader.”