The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammed Badaru Abubakar, has directed the service chiefs to phase out terrorism, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, farmers-herders conflict, oil theft, secessionist agitation, cultism, and other emerging violent crimes in no distant time.
The Minister also pledged to ensure that the nation’s Armed Forces in collaboration with other security agencies, worked in sync to rid the country of security challenges, saying they owed this as a duty to the president and Nigerians.
The Minister of Defence, gave the charge at a brief ceremony marking his assumption of office together with the Minister of State, Alhaji Bello Mohammed Matawalle at the Ministry’s headquarters (Ship House) in Abuja on Tuesday.
“The president is a go-getter, an achiever, and a thinker. The president is a macro manager, and he would be on our necks to deliver on security and I will do the same. As time goes on, I will engage you as individuals and groups.
“As we all know, without security, there would be no investment, and without investment, there would be no economic growth. Even though our food security is threatened, farmers can not farm in their farms because of insecurity in the land. The president is ready to give us all the support to do this. From now on, I will ask the service chiefs to give me a timeline and requirements on how we will begin to solve this problem of insecurity” he stated.
The timelines and the targets, he said, will be passed to the President, adding, “he will be monitoring us, and he doesn’t have the patience to work with lazy people. So, all our jobs are at stake, we must therefore, deliver for the country. ”
The Minister said “we resolve and promise that within a year or so, we would have remarkable change in the security sector.”
The Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, said they will leave no stone unturned in their efforts to build a strong defence apparatus that can effectively counter emerging threats.
He noted that the armed forces must be modernized and strengthened through investments in advanced weaponry, intelligence gathering capabilities, surveillance systems, and cyber defence infrastructure.
“We will work closely with international partners to acquire cutting-edge technology and expertise that will enhance our defence capabilities. At the same time, we recognize that military might alone can not guarantee lasting security and stability.
“We must address the root causes of conflicts, promote social cohesion, and foster economic development. By investing in education, healthcare, job creation, and infrastructure development, we can create an environment where extremism finds no fertile ground to thrive. We will collaborate with relevant ministries and agencies to implement programs that address the socio-economic disparities that often fuel conflicts” he said.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa in his remarks said the armed forces were willing to support the ministers to succeed in their tour of duty.
In his address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana said that the president carefully selected the ministers to address the security challenges confronting the country.
