Linus Aleke in Abuja
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has known as for the strategic reinstatement of modernised, technology-driven tollgates throughout the nation’s main highways, describing them as crucial non-kinetic safety infrastructure important for monitoring legal components and safeguarding lives and livelihoods.
He acknowledged that tollgates function important safety checkpoints globally and must be re-established underneath a modernised framework.
According to a press release by the Minister of Defence’s Special Assistant on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the minister careworn that the elimination and destruction of tollgates throughout the nation was a strategic mistake.
General Musa made this name whereas collaborating as a panellist on the Abuja Round Table, tagged ‘Promise to Proof: The Renewed Hope Conversation,’ throughout a session centered on ‘Safe to Farm, Travel and Trade: Protecting Lives and Livelihoods in Every Community.’
He stated: “With modern Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and automation, toll collection no longer requires cash transactions. Automated systems can instantly capture vehicle registration numbers, track vehicular movements across interstate corridors, and seamlessly trace or apprehend suspects.”
The minister famous that whereas tollgates confronted operational abuses previously, trendy technological integration eliminates these vulnerabilities, positioning automated tolling as a formidable non-kinetic safety instrument.
Musa additionally highlighted the pressing want for a streamlined, foolproof nationwide identification system to tackle the broader challenges of nationwide safety.
He careworn that integrating distinctive identification numbers, facial recognition and biometric knowledge is important for verifying information and eliminating id 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, he clarified that whereas the constitutional mandate of the Armed Forces of Nigeria is to defend the nation’s territorial integrity, the navy legitimately steps in to help inner safety when challenges exceed the capability of the police.
However, Musa expressed deep concern over personnel fatigue ensuing from extended inner deployments.
“Our troops have spent years deployed across regions such as the North-west, away from their families and loved ones,” he noticed.
He reiterated that lively measures are underway to strengthen police recruitment, coaching and operational capability.
The overarching goal is to construct a sturdy civil policing system that can allow the navy to steadily withdraw, return to barracks and relaxation, shifting the nationwide safety equipment from reactive measures to a proactive stance forward of 2027.
He careworn that Nigeria’s biggest power lies in its unity, asserting that the nation’s major problem isn’t a scarcity of assets or firepower, however inner divisions and an absence of cohesion amongst residents.
