I’ll do everything to end insurgency, killings, Buhari assures

President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to do everything within the ambit of the law to protect citizens from the onslaught of criminals, which includes insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and politically motivated killings.

Speaking yesterday in Kaduna at the Passing Out Parade for Cadets of 68 Regular Course (Army, Navy and Airforce), the President said the government remains focused on its priority of improving security, bolstering the economy and fighting corruption.  

President Buhari said: “As you are all aware, our beloved nation Nigeria is facing many security challenges at this period. We continue to face security threats and violent crimes such as insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and politically motivated killings, which threaten our national integration.

“I assure you that this administration will continue to do everything within the ambit of the law to eliminate all forms of violent crimes that are creating fear and anxiety among the citizenry.”

He disclosed that more equipment had been received from some friendly nations to improve security operations.

“These assets will be deployed to accelerate the fight against insecurity in all parts of the country,’’ the President said.

President Buhari noted that security had assumed priority in governance and public policy in the international scheme of affairs. 

“It is against this backdrop that we introduced a new Landing Ship Tank early this year to replace the first set of naval ship tanks, which were decommissioned by the Nigerian Navy.

“The introduction of the Landing Ship Tank is expected to bolster the Navy’s Sealift capability and promote our global maritime commerce, peace and safety within the Gulf of Guinea and our maritime neighbourhood,” he added.

The President said the administration was poised to eliminate the incentives for corruption by addressing some of the remote causes as part of a long-term strategy for a more effective and sustained war on the practice.

He said improvement of livelihoods of citizens had been going on in partnership with the relevant organised private sector.

According to him, some of the interventions by government are: “A smart law enforcement; provision of improved access to education that prepares our youths for global competitiveness; provision of quality health services for improved life expectancy and decent and affordable housing, among others.

“It is the conviction of this administration that ineffective policies for social provisioning must be redressed in our efforts to tackle the fundamental causes of corruption in our society. This is how best to give vent to the much-cherished values of fairness, equity and justice to the people of this nation.”

President Buhari commended the Commandant of the NDA, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Manu Yusuf, for the infrastructural upgrade in the military institution, and the colourful parade by the cadets of 68 regular course.

The President, who was the Reviewing Officer, told Graduating Officer Cadets, that the world they were entering was very different from that which confronted many of their predecessors.

“The contemporary security environment has been described as violent, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. You can therefore expect that the missions that you will be tasked to undertake will be similarly complex. Beyond these significant rationales, I am convinced that we have a real stake, and an abiding self-interest, in making sure our children and our grandchildren grow up in a world where school children are not kidnapped and where individuals are not slaughtered because of their tribe, faith or political beliefs,” he said.

In his remarks, the Deputy Commandant of NDA, Air Vice Marshal A.I. Ahmodu, thanked the President for his “unwavering commitment and support for the NDA” over the years.