BY JULIET EKWENUGO
Kaduna
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, Musa Mohammed, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating four additional Army divisions, describing the move as a strategic step towards tackling banditry, terrorism and other security threats across the country.
Mohammed said the restructuring of the military command structure, alongside improved welfare for military personnel, would strengthen the capacity, morale and operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces.
He said the development showed that the federal government was taking deliberate measures to address the country’s security challenges rather than merely reacting to attacks.
“His Excellency, President Tinubu has demonstrated that he understands the gravity of Nigeria’s security challenges and is prepared to take bold decisions to confront them. The creation of four new Army Divisions is not just an administrative adjustment; it is a strategic re-engineering of our military response to insecurity,” he said.
The APC chieftain also welcomed the planned improvement in the welfare of military personnel, saying the motivation of troops remained critical to the success of security operations.
“You cannot ask a soldier to make the ultimate sacrifice for his country and, at the same time, neglect his welfare. When you improve the welfare of our troops, you are not simply increasing their salaries or benefits – you are investing directly in the security and survival of the nation,” he said.
Mohammed commended the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, for his leadership and efforts towards implementing the administration’s security agenda.
He described the minister as an experienced military professional who understands the challenges confronting troops and called for sustained political and institutional support for the Armed Forces.
“What Nigerians need now is to give the military leadership the tools, resources and political support required to deliver victory,” he said.
Mohammed, however, said the restructuring of the military command must be supported with sustained investment in modern equipment and technology.
He called for the deployment of advanced surveillance systems, armed drones, Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, modern combat aircraft and other technologies capable of improving the military’s operational capabilities.
“We cannot fight a 21st-century war with 20th-century equipment. Our soldiers are brave, but bravery must be backed by technology. Give our troops the intelligence, mobility, firepower and air superiority they need, and they will deliver the decisive victory Nigerians are waiting for,” he said.
He also supported continued recruitment into the Armed Forces, saying increased manpower was necessary to enable the military to effectively cover the country’s vast territory.
He, however, stressed that recruitment must be accompanied by proper training, adequate equipment, logistics and continuous professional development of personnel.
Mohammed further commended efforts to improve coordination and intelligence-sharing among the military and other security agencies.
He said closer cooperation among the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and intelligence agencies was necessary to prevent criminal groups from exploiting gaps between security institutions.
“Bandits, terrorists and kidnappers do not operate in silos, so our security agencies cannot afford to operate in silos either. The enemy must not find gaps between the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and intelligence agencies to exploit,” he said.
According to him, effective intelligence-sharing would enable security agencies to identify criminal networks before they launch attacks, disrupt their supply chains and financing, and dismantle their operational bases.
He said the fight against insecurity required a combination of military operations, superior intelligence, modern technology, inter-agency cooperation and sustained political will.
Mohammed urged Nigerians to support the Armed Forces and other security agencies as they intensify operations against banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other forms of criminality.
“The message from the Tinubu administration is clear. Nigeria will no longer surrender its territory or its people to criminals. The war against insecurity is a war for the soul of Nigeria, and with the right strategy, equipment, intelligence and determination, victory is within our reach,” he said.
