Multifaceted challenges hampering our counter-terrorism efforts – Service Chiefs, IGP

The Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police Tuesday said multifaceted challenges were hampering their concerted efforts in the fight against terrorism, banditry, separatists’ agitations and other security challenges bedevilling the country.

They however said they have been doing their best in surmounting those challenges to ensure adequate security and protection of lives through their several counter-terrorism operations and exercises which they said have yielded significant results since assuming office.

The Service Chiefs including Maj. Gen. C.G Musa (Chief of Defence Staff); Maj. Gen. T. A. Lagbaja (Chief of Army Staff); Rear Admiral E. A. Ogalla (Chief of Naval Staff), and AVM H.B Abubakar (Chief of Air Staff) spoke when they appeared before the House of Representatives for the maiden sectoral briefing introduced by the 10th House.

Also in attendance at the briefing include the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbotokun.

The Service Chiefs identified the rising cost of aviation fuel, delays in release of funding for procurements of equipment; complexity in targeting terrorists within the populace; porous borders; inadequate personnel and sabotage as part of the challenges confronting the fight against terrorism.

Speaking at the briefing, the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj. Gen. C.G Musa, said the inability of the country to produce most of the sophisticated military hardware needed for their operations had remained a major challenge as they depend largely on other countries for their procurements.

He said besides the challenge of bureaucratic bottlenecks in the procurement processes; the current dollar crisis has further exacerbated the problem.

“We don’t produce what we need in Nigeria and if you do not produce what you need, that means you are at the beck and call of the people that produce these items. All the items we procure are bought with hard currency; none in naira. Most times when funds are released, by the time you turn these funds into dollars, it can only get us very little.

“For example, during the last regime, about N1 billion was set aside for defence procurements. Out of that amount, over 600 million dollars was for the procurement of the aircraft. So, the whole money had gone.

“For any ammunition we buy; we buy them in dollars and we spend in millions. So many times, when people see that funds are being released to the armed forces, they think it is so much but by the time you convert them to dollars, you do not get so much.

“One precision missile for our drone costs 5000 dollars. So, imagine how many we would be able to use and how many we can procure. So those are the challenges.

He said one other challenge hindering the fight against insurgency is that of alleged sabotage between terrorists and some compromised prisons officials.

“In the North East when we were debriefing some of the Boko Haram elements; some were telling us how from the prisons they could plan operations on the field. They passed funds across and we asked how. They use some of the warders. 

“We are not saying all of them are bad, but they use some of the warders’ accounts to transfer money and the deal is anybody’s account it is transferred to, they share it 50-50,” he said.

On the activities of IPOB in the South East, the CDS said the role of the Finland-based Simon Ekpa remained a key issue that must be looked into by the federal government, adding that he has become a menace to the country.

He said, “This individual has become a menace to this country. The country must act on it diplomatically. Finland is having a freeway encouraging him to be doing what he is doing. 

“By his utterances and actions, he is affecting what is happening in Nigeria. We should never allow that. Our foreign service needs to step in to address the issue. It is either we invite the ambassador or somebody. They must explain why they are protecting him. And he is doing us more harm by his utterances. A lot of people are being killed. We cannot sit back and keep quiet.”

On the way forward, he said there was a need to exploit the contemporary global shift in the utilisation of space technology and cyber warfare for national defence and security.

The CDS said so far, they have initiated the process of establishing a joint cyber warfare intelligence command where such emerging technologies will be exploited to enhance the capabilities of the armed forces of Nigeria. 

He also advocated greater synergy between the security forces and the civil populace through intelligence sharing to succeed in the fight.

“Security is not only the responsibility of security forces. Everybody has a responsibility to play. We cannot be everywhere. So, we need education and sensitisation programmes to educate Nigerians that security is everybody’s responsibility.

“If you see it, you talk about it. You just don’t keep quiet and say it is for the police. Everybody has a role. Our neighbouring countries, if you enter there as a visitor, I give you 30 minutes; they would know you are a visitor. Before you know it, the Gendarmes are after you. There, it is different.

“People tend to think it is not their responsibility. We are not magicians. We need to have a system where we train from schools; let every Nigerian understand that they should take ownership of security,” he said.

He emphasised the need for good governance as a panacea in addressing security challenges in the country.

He said, “The magic wand to address insecurity is good governance. Anywhere you have good governance insecurity goes down. The security forces can only produce 30 per cent. We can only provide an enabling environment. 

“If other aspects are not addressed, it is a problem. Security is not just military security. We have food security, health security, social security, and education security. All these play vital roles in achieving what we are doing. If we do not put these things in place through good governance, it becomes a problem.

“People can’t eat. People are hungry. No matter how you tell them to keep the peace, they will not because they have to eat and it aids criminality. So those are the aspects we are looking at that we must have good governance and everybody has belief in the country that this is their country.

He said there was the need for diligent and quick prosecution of arrested suspects by the prosecuting authorities and the judiciary.

High cost of aviation fuel hampering our air operations – Air Chief  

Also speaking, the Chief of Air Staff, AVM H.B Abubakar, lamented that the rising cost of aviation fuel (Jet A-1) has been hampering the air operations of the force.

“The astronomic rise in aviation fuel prices and the introduction of surcharges have adversely affected Nigerian Air Force operations, considering its large fleet. The situation continues to worsen with the cost of Jet A-1 fluctuating at N1,150 per litre as against the budgeted N360 per litre. The need for an intervention fund to the Nigerian Air Force as an independent importer of Jet A-1 fuel to sustain air operations while reducing the financial burden on the government may thus suffice”, he said.

Other challenges that bedevil the force include delays in the release of funding for procurements of equipment; complexity in targeting terrorists within the populace and porous borders, among others.

He said notwithstanding the challenges, the force had recorded a lot of achievements in its air operations.

He said the Nigerian Air Force has continued to conduct independent and joint operations aimed at decimating criminal elements.

He said the Nigerian Air Force is currently involved in 7 different theatres of operations across the country to address various security challenges.

He said through the various operations, key terrorists’ leaders and their foot soldiers have been neutralised, with many surrendering till date. 

On the way forward, he said there was need for approval of an operational licence for the Nigerian Air Force to independently import aviation fuel.

He said there was need to address delays in the release of funding for Nigerian Air Force procurements to enable the timely acquisition of equipment and spares parts.

Even criminals know police manpower grossly inadequate – IGP

In his address, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, lamented that the Nigeria Police Force is facing the challenge of inadequate manpower, poor funding, and inadequate operational vehicles and logistics, thus forcing the police to operate under a difficult environment.

He said adequate funding is critical to achieving effective policing in the country.

“We want a police force that members will be proud that they are police officers; which Nigerian youths and Nigerian people will be proud of. Unfortunately, we met on the ground, a police force that has been battered; a police force that has suffered serious neglect over the past few years.

“The police also find themselves operating in a very difficult environment; partly as a direct consequence of this neglect. The manpower in the police today is grossly inadequate; even the criminals know that. The United Nations ratio of 1 to 400 is not attainable in Nigeria as of today because the ratio in Nigeria is 1 to 1,000 which suggests that we have to double the manpower of the police,” he said.

Among the strategies being adopted include training of special intervention squads to tackle emerging security challenges as well as deepening inter-agency synergy and collaboration in the fight against insecurity.