What we are currently doing to enhance security, Osinbajo declares

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has declared that the present epidemic of insecurity in Nigeria will soon be a thing of the past.

Osinbajo said this on Wednesday evening when receiving the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Adeola Ajakaiye, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, made this known in a statement, entitled, ‘What we are currently doing to improve security, by Osinbajo.’

While soliciting for more community efforts to tackle insecurity, Osinbajo was also cited as saying that the new supplementary budget sent to the National Assembly, on improving the capability of the military and other security agencies, is part of the intensive efforts of the Buhari government to reinforce its response to the security challenges in the country.

The Vice President called on traditional rulers, local and state governments to work in partnership with the Federal Government in confronting insecurity.

He said, “The President has recently constituted a committee that will look at the whole security infrastructure with a view to looking at the needs of the military, as well as the police and security agencies.

“The result of that is a bill before the National Assembly, a supplementary bill. The purpose of that bill is to present some of the needs of the military, as well as of security agencies in order to be able to beef up our response to the security challenges.

“We have to keep looking at how to support our (security) services to ensure that our country is safe. I can assure you that soon, the issue of insecurity will be a thing of the past and that we will all live in peace and prosperity in this country.”

The Vice President further said that the Federal Government is so concerned about the disturbing outbreak of violence and abduction going on and will keep on increasing efforts towards enhancing security across the country; stating that community efforts are also important in confronting the issue from the roots.

He said, “There is no question at all that, at the level of community, we need to take decisive action, because most of these things occur at our community level.

“And I’m very happy to hear that you have a committee organised for the purpose of this (tackling insecurity) and that you’ve been able to contain the menace that we see in different parts of the country in your community.

“Any country with this number of security challenges must respond as robustly as possible.

“But it is also important to bear in mind that it takes a combined effort of all of us, at the local government level, state and federal levels; all of the levels; we need to come together to tackle this issue of insecurity.”

The Vice President assured the monarch that the Federal Government will offer the required support to the community in confronting its difficulties, stating that the FG is also working with the Ekiti State Government on tackling insecurity, and other related matters.

In his speech, Oba Ajakaiye was stated to have expressed gratitude to Osinbajo for paying attention to their demands and supporting the establishment of a Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences in the community.

He said, “Again, as a community, we have come to appreciate you for your diligence, hard work, commitment and loyalty; and that, we from the South West, are very proud of you.

“We want to assure you that we are very much in support of you. From our own end, we are doing a lot to ensure that the menace of insecurity will not remain in our domain.”