The Minister of Defence, Maj-Gen. Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd), has expressed the determination of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to secure the country and provide the enabling environment for seamless general elections coming up on February 25 and March 11, 2023.
The minister gave the assurance Monday while briefing the media at the 25th edition of the PMB scorecard series (2015-2023) at the National Press Centre, Radio House, Abuja.
Recalling the security challenges in the country before President Muhammadu Buhari took over in 2015, the minister declared that at the moment, no Nigerian territory is under the control of insurgents, contradicting widelyheld beliefs.
“The ministry under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration improved the security of hitherto adversely insecure regions of the country at the onset of the administration in 2015 by degrading the capacity of the terrorists/armed bandits to hold any territory within the country and improving internal security across the country.
“The Ministry of Defence and indeed the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) wishes to assure Nigerians of its resolve to continue striving to safeguard the stability of Nigeria’s democracy by ensuring peaceful 2023 general elections and swearing in of a new president on May 29, 2023,” he stated.
Providing assurances of the federal government’s capacity to secure the country, Magashi said, “the launch of DELSAT1 has given Nigeria an eye in the sky and would provide periodic imagery and intelligence that would enhance the operational capabilities of the AFN and other security agencies against the nation’s insecurity.
“It will be useful in tracking the activities of insurgents for the purpose of decimating them and enhance security operations.”
According to him, the proactive activities of the ministry of defence in dealing with the challenges of oil theft in the Niger Delta region, “where over 500, 000 bbls of crude oil, 41 million litres of AGO, 14 million litres of DPK and over 132, 000 litres of PMS were seized in 2022 alone, saved the country of N158 billion,” noting that the development had improved the crude oil revenue of the country.
He, however, acknowledged that the military was being overstretched owing to inadequate personnel and funding, and would need to recruit at least 1,000 soldiers biannually, in order to meet its increasing operational demands.
The minister, who explained the kinetic operations of his ministry including Operation Hadin Kai, Operation Hadarin Daji, Operation Delta Safe, and Operation River Sweep among others in dealing with the challenges posed by Boko Haram, ISWAP and other elements, commended the gallant troops in the theatre of war for their professionalism and assured of more welfare packages to enhance the moral of the soldiers.
He said the federal government “acquired 38 brand new aircraft to boost training and combat readiness of the Nigeria Air Force since 2015.
“The newly acquired air craft include10 Super Mushshak trainer aircraft, 5Mi-35M helicopter gunships and 2Bell 412 helicopters.
“Others include 4 Agusta 109 Power attack helicopters, 2Mi-171E helicopters, 3JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter aircraft and more recently, 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft in addition to a number of Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs).
“In the same vein, the NAF has sustained reactivation of hitherto unserviceable platforms to upscale its capabilities in tackling insurgency, terrorism, armed banditry and other forms of criminality. To this end, 17 previously grounded aircraft including the Super Puma, F-7Ni, EC-135, DO-228, Mi-24V, Mi-35P, C-130H, L-39ZA and Alpha Jet have been reactivated, among others.
“The ministry also curtailed crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region where over 500, 000 barrels of crude oil, 41 million litres of AGO, 14 million litres of DPK and over 132, 000 litres of PMS were seized in 2022 alone, saving the country of N158 billion. This has improved the crude oil revenue of the country.”
The minister said his ministry was confronted with myriads of challenges that affected service delivery; including inadequate manpower, inadequate intelligence, poor budgetary system, weak inter-agency cooperation and collaboration, inadequate platforms/equipment, inadequate capacity of paramilitary agencies, ineffective civil-military relations and cooperation as well as lack of exit strategies in IS operations.
“As at 2022, Nigeria, with an estimated population of 220 million people, has a total military strength of about 223, 000 personnel. This gives a ratio of military personnel to population of approximately 1:1,000. This is lower than those of Nigeria’s neighbours except Niger,” Magashi said.
On budgetary releases, the minister said: “The acquisition of equipment for joint operations requires adequate funding. A good budgetary system is therefore imperative for effective conduct of operations of any nation.
“Over the years, there is still this problem of incomplete releases of capital budget before the end of the fiscal year on annual basis. This situation has hampered the acquisition of essential platforms, equipment and logistics required to boost joint operations in the defence sector.”
In his opening remarks, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, commended the security agencies for their sacrifices to keep Nigeria safe.
The minister assured that, contrary to nay-sayers, the country was peaceful, friendly and secure.
He, however, condemned what he called “frivolous travel advisories” issued by the United Kingdom, United States of America among others in October 2022, warning their citizens to leave Abuja over alleged security concerns in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.
“This advisory created much panic in the country. As a matter of fact, a number of Americans were reported to have fled Abuja in the wake of the warning.
“Recall also that in our reaction to the advisory, we reassured Nigerians and non-Nigerians living in the country of their safety and noted that our security agencies are on top of the matter. Almost three months after the frivolous advisory, residents of Abuja have been going about their businesses without any threat.
“It is in this light that we want to; once again, commend our gallant troops, the police, the intelligence agencies and all other security agencies for their commitment and sacrifice to keep our country safe. We also call on Nigerians to continue to support the security agencies as they carry out their onerous task, while echoing Mr. President’s call on Western countries to stop issuing frivolous travel advisories on Nigeria,” he said.
The media briefing was attended by all the Service Chiefs; Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Farouk Yahaya, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshall Isiaka Amao, and Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo among other senior military and intelligence officers.
