The newly appointed Service Chiefs confirmed by the Senate, Wednesday, have assured Nigerians of better security in the coming weeks and months.

To realise their mission, they sought for adequate funding and also called for the empowerment of the Nigeria Police Force on internal security operations.

They affirmed the functionality of Super Tucano fighters, and   kicked against establishment of Coast Guards as separate security outfits against piracy and other coastline crimes. 

The Service Chiefs separately made the assurances during their appearances before the Senate for screening and confirmation.

…CAS hinges on professionalism

 Specifically, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Sunday Kelvin Aneke, in his submission before the Senate, said the coming days would be deadly for insurgents, bandits and other criminal elements in the country.

 “The Nigeria Air Force under my command will fight professionally, aggressively and deadly against the criminal elements in the country in securing the lives and properties of Nigerians and by extension, safeguarding the nation.

 “A combat-ready Air Force and operationally versatile one shall be unleashed on criminals disturbing the peace, security and safety of Nigerians,” he said.

 The NAF boss added that capacity and ability to adapt to rapid changes as required by situations at hand shall be displayed and deployed by the NAF under his command.

 He dispelled the rumour that the Super Tucanos fighter jets bought for the NAF were moribund, saying “they are flying and not grounded.”                                                                                                                         

The NAF chief, however called on the Senate and by extension the National Assembly, to collaborate with the executive on better funding for the military in its war against insurgents, bandits and other criminal elements.

“Enormous resources in terms of adequate funding is needed for more effective and efficient war against insurgency, banditry and others.

“There is no single day that in our air combat operations against terrorists and bandits that missiles are not fired, one of which costs $100,000. 

“We must spend money for more and more of such weapons and technology so as not to make Nigerians chickens waiting for the hawks to carry and kill,” he explained.

… CDS seeks funding for police

Making similar submission, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt – General Olufemi Oluyede, also called for more funding for the military for more potent war against agents of destabilisation.

He said: “We all know that resources are not enough. The enablers are not enough. It makes it very difficult to get everything required to prosecute the war against terrorism, banditry and other sundry crimes in Nigeria.

“We probably need to structure the police force because most of the job that is being done by the army as we speak actually lies within the power of the police. So, it is important for the nation to empower the police, make it stronger, make it more formidable so that they can do their job while we concentrate on defending Nigeria against external aggression.

“It is also important for us to know that for Nigeria to move forward, it’s imperative that we develop our own local military-industrial complex because we can’t keep on buying equipment from outside.” 

 …CAS on soldiers’ welfare

Also speaking, the Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Waidi Shuaibu, said welfare and wellbeing of soldiers and officers shall be seriously attended to for maximum commitment from them in the war against criminals.

 “The Army as the strength of the nation, is ever ready not to yield an inch of the nation’s territory to insurgents or allow any part of it to be used as operational base by criminals. More and more technological warfare shall be deployed to drive out insurgents and bandits in the country,” he said.

 …CNS dares marine criminals

For the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abba, tough times await marine criminals as drones would be deployed against them from time to time.

He, however, kicked against the move by the Senate to establish coastal guards, saying it would amount to duplication.

According to him, half of the money to be spent on that could be used for further funding of the Nigeria Navy.