The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, said President Bola Tinubu has demonstrated commitment to promote national unity and cohesion as key elements of his Renewed Hope Agenda.
Matawalle stated this at the inauguration of the National Defence College Course 32 in a lecture titled, “Strengthening National Unity for Security and Development in Nigeria,” on Friday in Abuja.
He said that threats to national unity, security and development remained a major priority for the administration of President Tinubu to drive his Renewed Hope Agenda.
The minister said that Nigeria was plagued with insecurity attributed to insurgency, sectionalism, banditry, demand for resource control, tribalism, and religious intolerance, among others.
According to him, the President had made efforts aimed at addressing some of the key issues which seemed to threaten Nigeria’s national unity, especially in the area of political appointments.
He avowed that President Tinubu has displayed a commitment to the inclusivity of all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religion or party affiliation.
“Additionally, President Tinubu, while in New York for the UN General Assembly, had a sideline meeting with Nigerians in Diaspora and asked them to come back home and build our dear nation.
“These are few of the efforts among many aimed at restoring national unity in our dear nation, Nigeria.
“Although pockets of challenges such as terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping as well as militancy in parts of the country still exist, combined with the impact of oil subsidy removal.
“You will all agree with me that this present government has recorded a lot of achievements in tackling not only the manifestations of the challenges but, more importantly, their root causes with the overall goal of strengthening national unity for the security and development of Nigeria,” he said.