After Meeting With Service Chiefs, Senate Hopeful Of Better Security

For hours yesterday, the Senate was locked in a meeting with Service chiefs, Defence ministers and heads of the various security agencies.

Details of discussions at the meeting were not made known to reporters. But the Senate expressed confidence of a more secured environment.

It commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his determination to secure lives and property.

The Senate also passed a vote of confidence the Service chiefs and security outfits for their efforts so far.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the resolutions after a 10-hour meeting behind closed doors with the Security chiefs and minister.

The Red Chamber had last week summoned the security chiefs and relevant ministers to brief it on the rising spate of insecurity.

At the meeting were: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar; Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla; Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) Yusuf Magaji Bichi.

Others are: National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Finance and Coordinating for the Economy Olawale Edun; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Police Affairs Ibrahim Geidam and Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.

Akpabio said “The Senate thereafter commended Mr. President for his determination and focus for ensuring the security of lives and property.

“The Senate also commends the security chiefs for their efforts so far and particularly commend our men and women in uniform and the leaders of various communities who even in the face of difficulties pay supreme sacrifice in order to ensure that they keep their various communities safe.

“The Senate is hopeful that the suggestions made to the security chiefs and the interactions so far will help to bring about a better Nigeria and a more secured nation, a urges them to go with all the suggestions made here and the revelations received here and use them as template for future actions.

“On behalf of the entire Senate of the Federal Republicans of Nigeria, thank all the security chiefs and thank the ministers and the National Security Adviser an also commend all the security chiefs, the Office of the National Security Adviser and the ministers.

“It was particularly pointed out that if the Honourable Minister of Interior should implement the unified system of identification, where the NIN number, the BVN and the VIN can all can at a press of a button bring out all the particulars concerning anybody that it would be a better thing for Nigeria. It is quite
revolutionary and we are quite impressed with the briefing we received.

You also pointed out that is now easier to get the Nigerian passport outside the country. This is a major improvement.

“For the security chiefs we assure you of the continuous support of not just this Senate but the that of the National Assembly.

“Today, we have not only passed a vote of confidence in you but we have also expressed to you our readiness to work hand in hand with you in all you do.”