By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has lauded the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for what it described as his outstanding leadership and strategic coordination of Nigeria’s security architecture, calling him “a watchman at the gate.”

In a statement released by the association’s president, Comrade Eshiofune Paul Oghayan, NAPS commended Ribadu for revitalizing synergy among Nigeria’s security agencies and shifting focus from abstract doctrines to concrete action.

“Rather than drown the nation in theoretical doctrines, Ribadu has restored operational synergy among Nigeria’s previously fractured security structure,” Oghayan said, speaking on behalf of progressive Nigerian students and the youth constituency.

Quoting Marcus Tullius Cicero — “The safety of the people shall be the highest law” — the NAPS president emphasized that Ribadu’s work as NSA embodies this principle, adding that he has stepped into Nigeria’s security challenges not merely as an appointee, but as a “sentinel of order and custodian of the republic’s conscience.”

According to NAPS, Ribadu’s leadership is defined by “strategic clarity, moral discipline, and a steadfast commitment to the public good.” Drawing on his experience as former EFCC chairman, Ribadu has helped redirect the national security agenda towards integrity and coordination.

The group outlined key national security achievements under Ribadu’s stewardship: Ribadu has revitalized military offensives against insurgents, particularly in the Northeast, through improved tactical coordination and strengthened local intelligence networks. His strategy combines precision military actions with community engagement, offering “both sword and olive branch.”

In the Niger Delta, his approach to securing pipelines and dismantling bunkering networks has yielded substantial gains in crude oil output—helping to rebuild national revenue and boost investor confidence.

Recognizing digital threats, Ribadu has advanced Nigeria’s cybersecurity framework to combat cyber extortion, information warfare, and disinformation campaigns.

Ribadu’s recalibration of Nigeria’s National Security Strategy includes a broader definition of security—integrating threats like climate change, food insecurity, and organized crime.

He has also revived Nigeria’s role within ECOWAS, the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), and other regional alliances, reinforcing the country’s position as a diplomatic and security leader in West Africa.

NAPS emphasized that “security is not merely the absence of danger, but the presence of justice, the inclusion of the excluded, and the restoration of public trust.” Ribadu, it said, embodies this deeper security philosophy, rooted in ancient African wisdom.

“Indeed, as Wole Soyinka once remarked, ‘The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny.’ Ribadu has not kept silent. He has chosen to labour in the dark so the nation might see daylight,” the statement continued.

NAPS concluded with both commendation and encouragement for Ribadu: “Do not relent. Do not let the shadows win. Do not drop the lamp while crossing the river. History is watching—and so are the millions who cannot hold a rifle, but pray daily for those who do.”

They urged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda must be felt not just as a slogan, but as a lived experience—“breathed into the institutions, felt in the grassroots, and etched in the memory of a grateful nation.”

“As we move through this national tunnel, we know the light is not automatic. But with men like Nuhu Ribadu at the helm, we dare to believe that the watchman is awake, the walls are being fortified, and dawn is, indeed, approaching. Let the nation rise and salute one of her finest sons.”