More troubles for Buhari as Monguno and Kyari lock horns

National security adviser, Babagana Monguno

It is all happening again in president Buhari's cabinet as two top officials in his administration are reportedly not in good terms.



Babagana Monguno, who is Buhari's National security adviser, has issues with the President's Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, whom he accused of wielding too much power and influence on Buhari's policies which according to him is against the interest of Nigerians. Monguno also accused Kyari of undue and dangerous interference on national security matters.

The security adviser who accused Kyari of dishing out directives to service chiefs without the knowledge much less approval of the president, warned the service chiefs via a memo, against taking further directives from Mr Kyari.


“Chief of staff to the president is not a presiding head of security, neither is he sworn to an oath of defending the country,” Mr Monguno, a retired major-general, said in the December 9, 2019, letter.

“As such, unprofessional practices such as presiding over meetings with service chiefs and heads of security organisations as well as ambassadors and high commissioners to the exclusion of the NSA and/or supervising ministers are a violation of the Constitution and directly undermine the authority of Mr President.




“Such acts and continues meddlesomeness by chief of staff have not only ruptured our security an defence efforts but have slowed down any meaningful gain that Mr President has sought to achieve.”

Mr Monguno’s letter comes as insecurity returns to centre stage as a major cause for worry among Nigerians.



Violent attacks linked to bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers and vandals have continued to claim multiple lives and properties across the country.

Monguno attributed Buhari's failure to addressing the nation's security woes, to Kyari's influence on the president.