Nigeria’s Federal Government has announced that it has formally approached Turkey for assistance in bolstering efforts to curb the nation’s deep-rooted insecurity, President Bola Tinubu revealed at a meeting with leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Lagos. According to a statement from his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, the government emphasized that while security forces are working tirelessly, more support is needed to effectively tackle pervasive threats across ungoverned spaces nationwide.
During the discussion, Tinubu highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture, including orders for four attack helicopters from the United States, which are expected to arrive in due course. He noted that military hardware is expensive and not readily available, prompting the request for additional collaboration with Turkey to help fill critical gaps. He also reassured Nigerians that reforms such as community and state policing will soon become realities once necessary legislation is completed by the National Assembly.
The president described the security challenge as serious but surmountable, urging religious and community leaders to remain vigilant and supportive. He underscored that while the nation enjoys a peaceful mood overall, large ungoverned areas still pose significant risks that require collective action. Tinubu’s remarks come amid increased cooperation with foreign partners, including recent U.S.-assisted airstrikes against terrorist camps in the Northwest, though this collaboration has drawn political criticism for how it was communicated to the public.
Critics, including political figures and religious commentators, have weighed in on the government’s approach, with some urging a reevaluation of foreign military cooperation strategies. These responses reflect broader public scrutiny of how Nigeria balances international help with sovereign security operations as it navigates one of its most challenging periods of domestic unrest
