In a bid to ensure security agencies confront successfully the series of security challenges facing the country, the Governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, on Wednesday solicited for more support to be given to members of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Aliyu said the Armed Forces should be provided with up to date equipment and training in modern warfare crisis management and tackling of insurgency.
The governor, who spoke in Minna at the launch of this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day and Emblem Appeal Week, also asked the political leadership for the “political will that they (Armed Forces) do the job they are employed to do properly”.
According to him: “We must demand from the political leadership the political will that will ensure they do the job they are employed to do properly security agencies should not be manned by those who failed in other places.
“As political leaders, we should give leadership and direction.
“We must equip it properly and give them the required training.
“We cannot for any reason relax.
“The Armed Forces are supposed to be combat ready at any time.”
Governor Aliyu also asked Nigerians to accord the necessary respect to members of the Nigerian Armed Forces, especially because they have decided to lay down their lives for others to live.
He also appreciated the role the Armed Forces have played in ensuring the continued unity and peace prevailing in the country.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigeria Legion in Niger State, ex-Warrant Officer 11, Musa Abubabkar Kutigi, announced that the proposed secretariat of the Legion will be named after Aliyu because of the support he has given to the organization over the last seven years.
Kutigi also disclosed that the legion is footing the educational bills of three children of legioneers in tertiary institutions and also planned to institute an empowerment scheme for widows of legioneers.
Over N2.1 million was collected at the appeal fund launch, with the Niger State Government giving the highest donation of N500,000.