Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, the minister of defence, stated on Wednesday that the Federal Government was investing in the modernization of military hardware to ensure the protection of both domestic and foreign visitors.
In a statement released by Mrs. Victoria Agba-Attah, Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, Badaru stated this in his message of goodwill at the 2023 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association.
“Crafting a Strategic Blueprint for Security and Prosperity” was the conference’s theme.
According to him, the government would focus on the blue economy, unmanned spaces, and climate change in addition to modernising military weapons.
Dr. Ibrahim Kana, the ministry’s permanent secretary, who was standing in for Badaru, stated that the Nigerian government had made significant investments through the ministry in providing tools and platforms to combat piracy.
He continued by saying that according to the International Maritime Bureau, Nigeria had only reported two to five occurrences in the Gulf of Guinea.
He said that the Ministry of Defence and the Nigerian Armed Forces were in charge of preserving peace and stability far beneath the surface of the brown and black waters.
In fact, the government is stepping up its efforts by offering more platforms like ‘Falcon Eye’ and the ‘deep blue project.
In order to combat instability throughout Nigeria’s coastal regions, not only the Niger Delta, the government has committed significant resources to these initiatives, he said.
Additionally, Badaru noted that the Nigerian Navy has taken part in the fight against piracy, which had a negative impact on the nation’s economy, particularly in the marine sector.
He added that unmanned space had an important impact on the nation’s economy and security.
In order to lessen security in the nation, he continued, agriculture investments would be made in the unmanaged areas.
Regarding innovation and defence, the minister stated that the National Defence Policy placed a strong emphasis on the modernization of the Armed Forces.
He stated that the nation was creating a local Military Industrial Complex that would promote innovation, create jobs, and combat insecurity.
“We will start to say goodbye to insecurity in Nigeria with the deployment of modernised military equipment,” he stated.
According to OBASANJO NEWS24, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, who was in attendance through Rear Admiral M.K. Onubebe’s representation, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Abubakar Bagudu, also attended.
Other attendees included Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, who was represented by Maj. Gen. Jimmy Akpor, the Chief of Army Administration, and Kayode Egbetokun, the Acting Inspector General of Police, who was represented by Deputy Inspector General of Police Frank Mba.
Other dignitaries in attendance included Chief Adetunji Adeleye, Commander of the Ondo State Security Network (Amotekun), and His Royal Highness Justice Lawan Gummi, Emir of Gumi.
