To secure Nigeria’s borders, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the formation of a National Boarder Protection Force.
Uche Secondus, the PDP’s National Chairman, gave the advice at a world conference held by the party in Abuja on Monday.
According to Secondus, the force will have an integrated border security structure that will draw staff and equipment from the Nigerian Immigration Service and current armed forces.
He said that Nigeria must safeguard its borders against terrorists and bandits.
“This border force should be equipped with reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, prevention and enforcement facilities. It should therefore have air, sea, and land capability,” he said.
Secondus decried the rise in murder, kidnapping, and other terrorism cases across the country, particularly in Kaduna, Niger, Benue, Katsina, and Zamfara.
He denounced the attack on a prison in Owerri, Imo, that resulted in the release of 1,844 inmates.
Secondus advocated for the use of technology in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and other forms of criminal activity.
“The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) established many years ago is designed for the purpose of surveillance and others.”
The PDP national chairman urged the federal government to reinforce security agencies by recruiting more staff and equipping them with kinetic weapons of war and law enforcement.
“In addition, efforts should be made toward partnership with foreign governments and miscellaneous entities for the war efforts.
“The situation in our country is not normal and exceptional steps should be taken to restore it to normalcy.
“The PDP, as a body, is willing to give a helping hand in this direction,” he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari, Secondus urged, should deepen interaction with people on the current insecurity situation.
He reaffirmed the party’s call for the creation of state police and urged all people to join in the effort.
He proposed a meeting of governors, national and state legislatures, and related government agencies to discuss the establishment, organization, and management of state police.
Any obstacles to the formation and service of state police, he believes, should be resolved by legislation to make violence extremely difficult.
States facing security problems, according to Secondus, should be invited to National Security Council meetings for deliberation and problem-solving experiences.
He went on to say that all those responsible for the war on Nigeria should be brought to justice.
“It is unfathomable that several mass kidnappings have been successfully staged with the culprits not being held to account.
“If Sheik Gumi can detect and engage the bandits, then our security agencies should track, arrest and prosecute them.”
Secondus has advocated for more authority to be devolved to states and local governments.
“Items like Railway, Aviation, Power, Police, among others should devolve to trigger productivity and creative leadership that will enable the constituent parts to develop.
“Such new responsibilities should also come with consequential increment in the resources available to the states.”
He urged the National Assembly to consider the report of its joint committee on Electoral Act Amendment, which has been before both chambers since February 2021.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
