The national security adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, Babagana Mongono says the police and army would be available to protect Nigerians while casting their votes during elections.
This is as he assured that the February 25 and March 11 elections would be peaceful.
Monguno gave the assurance during his meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and leadership of security agencies in the country.
He said the meeting was to look at issues that dominated the country’s political and economic spaces in the last couple of weeks, leading to apprehensions, agitation, fear and uncertainty regarding the elections.
In his words, “It is very important that Nigerians are not pushed to the limit where they will abandon their number one responsibility as citizens.
“We are all aware of the current situation in the country. There is a need for me to reassure citizens of this country that whatever fears, whatever agitations we have, I would want to dispel such feelings.
“The 2023 elections will go on in a climate devoid and bereft of rancour. The security agencies have done a lot in the last couple of months to put things in place.
“We are not in any way in doubt what the situation of the country is, but we need to let the entire country know that agents of bad news are peddling all kinds of stories around. We see these on social media and hear things on many platforms.
“If these are intended to scare people, I want to dispel such illusions.”
He added, “It is very important that Nigerians are not pushed to the limit where they will abandon their number one responsibility as citizens. I have confidence in the work security agencies have been doing.”
