The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has warned state governors against giving out motorcycles as palliatives, saying the vehicles are normally handed over to terrorists who use them for their nefarious activities. Officials
Musa made the statement while speaking on Channels Television last nite where he also maintained that the country has seen improved security under President Bola Tinubu with terrorist attacks becoming less common.
“We try to appeal to any governor to stop giving out motorcycles as palliatives because these motorcycles are still the same ones that will end up with these terrorists.
“Even if you are to give, don’t give them the big capacity motorcycles, give them the small capacity ones that they won’t be able to use to run around because that gives them leverage. “They can get in anywhere, any time, and go out again, same time. If the government intends to distribute low capacity motorcycles as palliatives, it should consider distributing them to limit the benefit terrorists could receive from them,” the Defence Minister said.
Better security
The improved security in Nigeria with Boko Haram and ISWAP assaults not as regular as they used to be was noted by Musa.
“I can tell you there is heightened security. Maybe if you noticed, you don’t hear so much of Boko Haram assaults, ISWAP attacks and all these things here and there, maybe one off,
Now I say, the trajectory is this, from criminality to kidnapping to terrorism, insurgency; once you are able to attack them it goes back downhill and so we are now back into the stage of abductions and kidnappings because that is the easiest way for them to try and earn money.’
The former Chief of Defence Staff said forces have now moved inside the terrorists’ camps and have recovered several of the abducted people.
He also underlined the need to empower local governments to function efficiently, saying that the failure of local governments is one of the elements that worsen insecurity in the country.
Elections 2027
Musa said that instability will not impede President Bola Tinubu’s campaign for a second term in power in the 2027 general elections. Campaigns and Elections
He also backed his appointment to the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign team as head of security, saying it would not affect his functions as Defence Minister.
“I am a professional, I will never descend to that level (of partisanship against opposition). Nigeria is my unit, whatever it takes to protect Nigeria that is what we stand for.
We want a peaceful election and we will work toward that and we will cooperate with all parties because that is why I am the Minister of Defence to ensure that every security force does what is proper.
“So like I said, we are going to support INEC to ensure that the election is free, fair and credible because we want Nigeria to come out of all these election issues. We’ve moved on from that.”
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