Retired Brigadier-General Halliru Akilu, former Chief of Defence Intelligence, has urged Nigerian leaders to adopt the security strategies employed by former President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida in addressing the nation’s current security challenges, including banditry and kidnapping.
General Akilu made this appeal during a Virtual International Colloquium on the Legacies of President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, held in Ghana over the weekend.
The event, organized by the Africa Islamic Education Forum, featured prominent participants such as former Presidents and Heads of State, political leaders, academics, and researchers from across Africa.
Reflecting on Babangida’s eight-year rule, General Akilu noted that it was marked by significant challenges that could have destabilized the country. However, Babangida consistently took decisive measures to restore peace and stability.
He emphasized that Babangida’s leadership extended beyond Nigeria, influencing the entire West African sub-region and the continent as a whole. “The government firmly believed in laying the foundation of stability, promoting regional integration, and implementing economic reforms throughout the continent,” Akilu said.
General Akilu also advised leaders in the region to closely examine the security reforms initiated by Babangida, which led to the restructuring of the defunct Nigerian Security Organization (NSO) into three separate entities: the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and the Department of State Services (DSS).
He stressed the urgency of replicating the ECOMOG model, introduced during the Babangida administration, to combat the current wave of banditry, kidnappings, and general insecurity in the region. “Now is the time for leaders to replicate the ECOMOG model enunciated by the Babangida government to restore peace and economic freedom,” Akilu emphasized.
On the topic of human development, General Akilu highlighted Babangida’s deep connection with the people, citing initiatives such as the Better Life for Rural Dwellers, founded by Babangida’s late wife, Hajiya Maryam Babangida, and the Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFFRI), which significantly improved access to roads, water, health, and other essential amenities in rural areas.
As a member of the Board of Trustees of the Arewa Consultative Forum, General Akilu expressed profound gratitude to the former President of Mauritius for her kind words about General Babangida and the enduring legacies he established. He noted that the participation of President Ameenah and other contributors helped to further enlighten the world about the achievements of Babangida’s government.
General Akilu, who also served as Director of Military Intelligence, described the Colloquium as a tribute to President Babangida and the people of Nigeria.
In her keynote address, the former President of Mauritius, Dr. Bibi Ameenah Firdaus Gurib-Fakim, acknowledged that the Babangida era was characterized by significant reforms and infrastructure development. She praised the establishment of the two political parties, the SDP and NRC, during Babangida’s regime, noting that it was a positive step toward fostering lasting democracy.
Dr. Ameenah encouraged West African heads of government to emulate the resilience displayed by Babangida during ECOMOG operations, stressing the need to rejuvenate regional security comprehensively.
Hajiya Aishatu Babangida, daughter of General Babangida, expressed her gratitude to the former President of Mauritius and other speakers, stating that the forum was a great honor to her family. She reaffirmed her commitment to continuing the work of the Better Life Project, which she took over after her mother’s passing, with a focus on empowering local communities.
