Tinubu Meets Service Chiefs Over Security Situation

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday held a security meeting with service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The meeting, which lasted for almost two hours, focused on the security situation across the country and efforts by security agencies to respond to recent attacks.

The meeting was the first security session involving the new Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, since he took office. Disu was appointed on February 28, 2026, after the resignation of his predecessor.

Security chiefs arrived at the Presidential Villa earlier in the day for the closed-door meeting with the President. They came without their usual official vehicles, which made it difficult to identify them when they arrived. After the discussions ended, the officials were seen leaving the forecourt of the Villa at about 5:10 pm.

The meeting took place at a time when there are concerns about security developments in parts of the country, especially in the North-East. In recent days, several attacks have been reported on military positions and personnel operating in the region.

Within the past week, at least three commanding officers in charge of forward operating bases lost their lives during attacks on military formations. The attacks have been linked to insurgent groups operating in the region, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province.

One of the incidents occurred in Ngoshe, a community in Borno State, where residents were abducted during an attack. Other attacks were also reported in areas such as Konduga, Marte, Jakana and Mainok in the same state.

The recent incidents have drawn responses from the Federal Government. Both President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima had earlier spoken about the need to intensify efforts against insurgent groups.

Earlier in March, during an Iftar dinner with service chiefs, the President assured members of the armed forces that the government would continue to support their efforts in tackling terrorism despite recent attacks on military formations.

Vice President Shettima also stated that the government would continue to take action aimed at ending the insurgency and restoring security in affected parts of the country.

Although details of the discussions at Thursday’s meeting were not made public, the talks were believed to include the recent attacks on security personnel, the situation in communities affected by violence in the North-East and cooperation among security agencies.

In another development on Thursday, President Tinubu also invited the Director-General of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Dr Olubunmi Kuku, to the Presidential Villa for a meeting. This was the second time the FAAN chief would meet the President within one week.

The FAAN Director-General was seen arriving at the Villa while the security meeting with the service chiefs was still ongoing earlier in the afternoon.

The meeting came shortly after the President ordered the suspension of the cashless payment system at airport toll gates across the country. The decision followed complaints about heavy traffic at airports in Lagos and Abuja, which reportedly caused passengers to miss their flights.

Earlier on March 5, the FAAN Director-General had also met with the President after the suspension was announced. She arrived at the Villa alongside the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, later explained that the suspension of the system was directed by the President after complaints from airport users about long queues and delays at toll gates.

The government has since asked the aviation ministry to work with private sector operators to develop a better payment system. The proposed arrangement is expected to allow both cash payments and prepaid cards while authorities work on a long-term solution.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria manages toll gates and revenue collection points at airports across the country and is expected to play a key role in implementing any new system approved by the government.

As of the time the report was filed, the FAAN Director-General was still at the President’s office.