Vice President Shettima Reaffirms Tinubu’s Commitment To National Security, Calls For Collaborative Action

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reassured the people of Nigeria that President Bola Tinubu was concerned about the security of the country, while emphasizing that he was taking the issue seriously.

During a meeting with the leadership of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Presidential Villa on Monday, Shettima stressed the need for collaborative action and encouraged support for NAN's upcoming international lecture on Sahel security.

He urged joint efforts to tackle insecurity in West Africa's Sahel region, noting that the security issues there affected Nigeria and its neighboring countries.

"The international lecture NAN is organizing is very timely, especially on the issue of insecurity in the Sahel. The security situation in the nation is something that the President is very much interested in and is not taking it lightly," he said, as per the official State House website.

"I believe that with the caliber of people that will grace the lecture, you will come up with a lot of perspectives on how to address the insecurity in the Sahel in a holistic way."

Shettima praised NAN for its important role in Nigeria's media operations, and added the organization helped close the information gap and influence public discussions on national issues.

NAN Managing Director Ali Mohammed Ali spoke ahead of the conference and said the upcoming conference will be themed "Insecurity in the Sahel (2008-2024): Dissecting Nigeria's Challenges—Genesis, Impacts, and Options."

He announced that former chairperson of the ECOWAS Commission Mohamed Ibn Chambas will be the lead speaker at the lecture, scheduled for Sept. 25. Ali noted that the conference was part of NAN's efforts to go beyond news reporting and actively contribute to national discussions and problem-solving.

Ali went on to share several plans to improve NAN's reach and effectiveness. These included launching broadcasts in local languages, starting with a Hausa portal, reopening international offices like the one in London and increasing coverage across all 109 senatorial districts in Nigeria.

NAN Managing Director emphasized that NAN knew Nigeria better than anyone, due to its extensive network of correspondents and offices throughout the country.

He also mentioned that Tinubu will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China's Xinhua News Agency during his visit to China, which will help expand NAN's international partnerships.