Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, believes that Nigeria can resolve its insecurity challenges within six months to a year if the government adopts a serious approach.
He stressed the importance of providing adequate support to service chiefs, including manpower, equipment, and resources, and establishing clear deadlines for progress.
Ndume pointed out critical issues such as personnel shortages, insufficient training, and a lack of modern equipment, specifically mentioning that Nigerian army formations are without new AK-47s or AK-49s.
While acknowledging efforts by the Nigerian Army to upgrade its arsenal with acquisitions like Chinese VT4 tanks and T-72 tanks from the Czech Republic, he emphasized that the effectiveness of these upgrades in tackling security issues is yet to be determined.
He stated, “We face three fundamental challenges: Boko Haram, banditry, and IPOB. If the government is serious about addressing these, we can see improvements in six months to a year.”
Ndume highlighted that bandits are often ill-equipped and rely on weapons seized from the armed forces. He questioned the ability of security agencies to effectively track criminals using modern technology, suggesting systemic issues within the current security framework. He commended the Chief of Army Staff for recognizing the unrealistic expectations placed on the military to secure a population of 230 million with limited resources.