FG set to unveil identities of terror sponsors — Presidential Aide

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has revealed that the Federal Government is preparing to publish the names of individuals and networks bankrolling terrorism across Nigeria.

Speaking on a Television Continental programme on Sunday, Bwala said the Tinubu administration has already begun implementing “far-reaching measures” to strengthen national security—steps he noted will soon be apparent to the public.

According to him, the government is accelerating its intelligence and counter-terrorism operations, with plans underway to expose those funding and enabling violent extremist activities nationwide.

“In the coming days, Nigerians will know who the terrorists are and those behind their financing,” he stated.

Bwala stressed that terrorism has transformed into a borderless global threat, underscoring the importance of international collaboration in combating its spread. He noted that global powers increasingly recognise the need to support nations like Nigeria, where extremist groups continue to seek expansion.

“Since 9/11, terrorism has become a global security priority. Any country where terrorists find space becomes a concern to the international community. That is why global partners must keep working with Nigeria to dismantle these networks,” he said.

He further explained that extremist operations, once concentrated in parts of the Middle East, are shifting toward the Sahel region, creating new hotspots that demand enhanced regional and global coordination.

On the continental stage, President Tinubu has rejected the growing use of private military and security contractors in African conflict zones, warning that their presence undermines national sovereignty and complicates counter-terrorism efforts.

Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the first plenary session on ‘Peace, Security, Governance and Multilateralism’ at the 7th African Union–European Union Summit in Luanda, Angola, Tinubu insisted that African nations must lead their own security responses rather than outsource them to actors operating without clear mandates.

“We stand firmly against the deployment of private military and security companies in African conflicts, as their involvement often complicates resolution efforts and weakens state authority,” Shettima said on Tinubu’s behalf.

Tinubu maintained that Africa’s security problems—from terrorism to organised transnational crime—require coordinated, state-led efforts, consistent with Nigeria’s long-standing approach to regional interventions under ECOWAS and the African Union.

He added that the global retreat from multilateralism has made the security environment more fragile, emphasising that the EU remains one of the few bodies still engaging Africa on a partnership grounded in mutual respect and shared interests.