FG could reintroduce tollgates with surveillance tech to curb freeway crimes – Minister of Defence

Christopher Musa, Minister of Defence, says the federal
authorities is contemplating reintroducing toll gates geared up with fashionable
surveillance expertise to curb kidnapping, banditry and different legal
actions on Nigeria’s highways.

 

Musa spoke at an occasion organised by the All Progressives
Congress (APC) and convened by Ismaeel Ahmed, government chairman and chief
government officer (CEO) of the presidential initiative on compressed pure
gasoline and electrical autos (PiCNG & EV).

The occasion was titled “Promise to proof: The renewed hope
dialog”.

He mentioned the proposed tollgates would serve not solely as
income assortment factors but in addition as safety checkpoints the place expertise
might establish, monitor and observe autos with out requiring motorists to cease
for guide funds.

Responding to considerations about insecurity on main highways
and a suggestion that motorists might contribute to safety funding by
tollgate levies, Musa supported the proposal, saying Nigeria might need made a
mistake by dismantling tollgates.

He mentioned the system have to be backed by expertise able to
figuring out autos by their registration numbers and processing funds
electronically.

The minister additionally advocated a stronger nationwide
identification system incorporating private identification numbers, facial
recognition and fingerprint expertise to assist safety businesses set up
identities and observe legal networks.

On the navy’s involvement in inner safety
operations, Musa acknowledged that extended deployments throughout the nation had
stretched the armed forces past their conventional duties.

He mentioned the navy was working in the direction of a gradual
withdrawal from inner safety operations by strengthening the capability of
the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to take over duties inside its
mandate.

According to him, the navy was supporting the police
by coaching, operational help and different capacity-building
interventions, whereas the federal government pursued extra recruitment and
tools procurement.

Musa mentioned N5.4 trillion was allotted to defence within the 2026
finances, alongside plans to recruit an extra 12,000 personnel.

He mentioned the funding would cowl fashionable weapons, surveillance
techniques and operational platforms to enhance intelligence gathering, mobility,
firepower and fast response.

Giving an account of latest navy operations, the
minister mentioned safety forces had killed greater than 300 terrorists and bandits,
together with over 10 commanders, in operations carried out within the week previous his
presentation.

He attributed the progress in opposition to terrorism, banditry and
kidnapping to improved intelligence gathering, joint navy operations and
stronger cooperation amongst safety businesses.

Musa, nevertheless, recognized porous borders as a serious impediment
to tackling insecurity, noting that Nigeria’s intensive borders, significantly
with the Niger Republic, offered alternatives for legal teams and arms
traffickers to maneuver throughout the area.

He mentioned Nigeria had maintained safety relationships with
Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali regardless of their withdrawal from the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS), significantly in navy coaching
and cooperation round border communities.

On native defence manufacturing, Musa mentioned the federal government has
strengthened the nation’s defence trade by legislative reforms and
partnerships with tools producers.

He urged Nigerians with experience in cybersecurity, drone
manufacturing and different defence applied sciences to current their improvements for
potential collaboration with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria
(DICON).

The minister additionally urged residents to report suspicious
actions of their communities to assist safety businesses in tackling
legal operations.

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