June 25, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has given assurances that the security challenges facing the country would soon be over.
To this end, he said the recent supplementary budget sent to the National Assembly was to enhance the capacity of the military and other security agencies as a major effort towards beefing up the Federal Government’s response to the menace.
The government this week sent a Bill for an N895 billion supplementary budget for the approval of the Parliament.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity (Office of the Vice President) Laolu Akande, in a statement Thursday quoted Vice President Osinbajo as saying this Wednesday evening when he received in audience His Royal Majesty Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti Oba Adeola Adeniyi Ajakaiye at the Presidential Villa Abuja.
In attendance were Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Otunba Niyi Adebayo, and Senator Opeyemi Bamidele among others.
The Vice President further stated that traditional rulers, local and state governments must also collaborate with the Federal Government in tackling insecurity.
He said: “The President has recently constituted a committee that will look at the whole security infrastructure with a view to looking at the needs of the military, as well as the police and security agencies.
“The result of that is a bill before the National Assembly, a supplementary bill. The purpose of that bill is to present some of the needs of the military, as well as of security agencies in order to be able to beef up our response to the security challenges.
“We have to keep looking at how to support our (security) services to ensure that our country is safe. I can assure you that soon, the issue of insecurity will be a thing of the past, and that we will all live in peace and prosperity in this country.”
The Vice President said much as the Federal Government was concerned to improve security nationwide, community effort was also vital in tackling the issue from the roots.
“There is no question at all that, at the level of community, we need to take decisive action, because most of these things occur at our community level.
“And I’m very happy to hear that you have a committee organised for the purpose of this (tackling insecurity) and that you’ve been able to contain the menace that we see in different parts of the country in your community.
“Any country with this number of security challenges must respond as robustly as possible. But it is also important to bear in mind that it takes a combined effort of all of us, at the local government level, state and Federal levels; all of the levels; we need to come together to tackle this issue of insecurity”, the statement said.
Osinbajo also said the Federal Government would provide necessary support to the community in tackling its challenges, adding the government was working with the Ekiti state government on dealing with insecurity, as well as various issues.
In his remarks, the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Adeola Adeniyi Ajakaiye, thanked the VP for granting them audience and listening to their demands, including support for the establishment of a Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences in the community.
“Again, as a community, we have come to appreciate you (Vice President) for your diligence, hard work, commitment and loyalty; and that, we from the South West, are very proud of you. We want to assure you that we are very much in support of you. From our own end, we are doing a lot to ensure that the menace of insecurity will not remain in our domain,” Oba Ajakaiye said.
