The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and over 75 civil society organisations (CSOs) under the umbrella of the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) have commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his bold decision to sack the non-performing Service Chiefs, describing the move as long overdue but better late than never.
In a statement obtained by The News Chronicle and jointly signed by Comrade James Ezema, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the CNPP, and Alhaji Ali Abacha, National Secretary of the CNCSOs, the groups said the persistent insecurity witnessed across the country during the tenure of the former Service Chiefs justified the President’s decision.
“From the forests of Zamfara to the highways of Abuja–Kaduna, the creeks of the Niger Delta to the shores of the Gulf of Guinea, insecurity flourished under their watch. Kidnapping, banditry, insurgency, and piracy became daily realities for Nigerians. Entire communities were displaced, farmlands abandoned, and ancestral lands seized by non-state actors. Their removal was not just necessary — it was inevitable,” the statement declared.
While acknowledging that the decision came later than expected, the groups noted that the removal of the Service Chiefs could pave the way for renewed strategic direction in the fight against insecurity.
The coalition also called for a comprehensive probe into the tenure of the former Service Chiefs to ensure transparency in the management of defence funds.
“The President’s action rekindles hope that the government is now ready to match political will with decisive leadership in the war against insecurity.
“The Nigerian people deserve to know how trillions of naira budgeted for defence and internal security were spent while insecurity worsened. We call on President Tinubu to immediately constitute an independent panel to investigate the activities, procurements, and command decisions of the former Service Chiefs to determine whether negligence, corruption, or complicity contributed to the sustained insecurity that ravaged the country under their leadership,” the statement demanded.
While urging the newly appointed Service Chiefs to learn from their predecessors’ failures, the CNPP and CNCSOs also called for a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s internal security system, with special emphasis on restoring the central role of the Nigeria Police Force in domestic security management.
“The police must not continue to exist merely as a protest control unit while the military performs internal security functions that should constitutionally belong to the police. A weak police force translates into weak internal security. The time has come for President Tinubu to empower, reform, and reposition the police as the lead agency in maintaining law and order,” the coalition emphasised.
They also called for the implementation of community policing to enhance intelligence gathering and restore public trust in law enforcement.
“Community policing is not just desirable; it is essential. Security must begin from the people, not from the barracks. The government must bring policing closer to the citizens to build trust, cooperation, and resilience against crime,” the statement noted.
