Defence minister requires return of tollgate

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd), has known as for the strategic reinstatement of modernised, tech-driven tollgates throughout the nation’s main highways, describing them as vital non-kinetic safety infrastructure important for monitoring prison components and safeguarding lives and livelihoods.

An announcement signed by Special Assistant on Media to the minister, Leah Katung-Babatunde, famous General Musa made the assertions whereas taking part as a panellist on the Abuja Round Table, tagged “Promise to Proof: The Renewed Hope Conversation,” in a session centered on “Safe to Farm, Travel and Trade: Protecting Lives and Livelihoods in Every Community.”

Revisiting previous coverage choices, the Defence Minister famous that the removing and destruction of tollgates throughout the nation was a strategic mistake.

He emphasised that tollgates function very important safety checkpoints globally and ought to be re-established below a modernised framework.

“With fashionable Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and automation, toll assortment now not requires money transactions.

“Automated systems can instantly capture vehicle registration numbers, track vehicular movements across interstate corridors, and seamlessly trace or apprehend suspects,” he mentioned.

He famous that whereas tollgates confronted operational abuses previously, fashionable technological integrations get rid of these vulnerabilities, positioning automated tolling as a formidable non-kinetic safety instrument.

Addressing the broader panorama of nationwide safety, General Musa highlighted the pressing want for a streamlined, foolproof nationwide identification system. Drawing comparisons to international greatest practices, he harassed that integrating distinctive identification numbers, facial recognition, and biometric knowledge is important for verifying information and eliminating identification ambiguity.

According to the Minister, establishing a complete and centralised digital identification structure will successfully shut persistent safety loopholes and improve real-time intelligence gathering throughout the federation.

On navy deployment, the Minister clarified that whereas the constitutional mandate of the Armed Forces of Nigeria is defending the nation’s territorial integrity, the navy legitimately steps in to help inside safety when challenges exceed police capability.
General Musa nonetheless, expressed deep concern over personnel fatigue ensuing from extended inside deployments.

“Our troops have spent years deployed across regions such as the Northwest, away from their families and loved ones,” he noticed.

He reiterated that energetic measures are underway to bolster police recruitment, coaching, and operational capability.

General Musa underscored that Nigeria’s best energy lies in its unity, asserting that the nation’s major problem just isn’t a scarcity of assets or firepower, however inside divisions and a scarcity of mutual cohesion amongst residents; He urged Nigerians to maneuver previous historic grievances.

“We must begin to view one another simply as human beings and fellow citizens, rather than dividing ourselves along ethnic, regional, or religious lines,” General Musa urged.

The Defence Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s unwavering dedication below the Renewed Hope Agenda to making sure that each Nigerian can safely farm, journey, and conduct commerce throughout each group within the nation.