PUNCH
With about 48 hours to the Presidential and National Assembly elections, Nigeria’s Security Council said it was satisfied with the level of security nationwide, therefore, there was “no going back” on the February 25 and March 11 election dates.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, disclosed this to State House correspondents after the council’s maiden meeting for 2023 chaired by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Wednesday’s declaration was meant to allay simmering concerns that the federal government may postpone the elections amidst the new naira crisis.
With the crisis ensuing from the Central Bank’s new naira policy coupled with the fuel scarcity in some parts of the country, some governors and public officeholders have alleged deliberate plans by the federal government to shift the election dates, a claim that the Presidency has repeatedly denied.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, the AGF, Malami, said the federal government had made enough preparations ahead of Saturday’s elections.
He said the members expressed satisfaction with the current security situation and resolved that the elections must be held as planned.
According to Malami, council members were briefed by the Chief of Defence Staff, the Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs, and heads of other security agencies about their readiness to provide the necessary security cover for the election.
The AGF also noted that the Security Council meeting was a follow-up on earlier meetings by the Federal Executive Council and the Council of States to ascertain the readiness of the electoral watchdog, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and the Nigeria Police Force for the general election.
“At the National Security Council meeting, briefings were made by security agencies generally and service chiefs.
“National Security Adviser made submission; Chief of Defence Staff made one; Chief of Army Staff made submission; Chief of Naval Staff made submission, Chief of Air Staff did; Inspector-General of Police, who incidentally is equally addressing you, made submission; Director-General, State Security Service did; and indeed DG NIA and CDI all made submissions.
“The summary and conclusion of all submissions was to the effect that the system is wholeheartedly ready for the conduct of the election and arising there from, the position of the government, the position of the President is to the effect that the election is holding on February, 25 2023 and Mr. President and the National Security Council are happy with the preparations on the ground and wholehearted arrangements are put in place in that direction.”
Malami added that there was no going back on the planned elections.
