Boko Haram, IPOB, banditry others have been significantly degraded – Buhari

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

President Muhammadu Buhari has boasted that his administration has significantly degraded Boko Haram insurgency, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Eastern Security Network, ESN and banditry in some parts of the country.

Buhari stated this at the passing out parade of the 4th regular course course cadets of the Nigeria Police Academy Wudil in Kano on Thursday.

 According to Mr Buhari, relative normalcy had already returned to most towns and villages in the affected areas, adding that more efforts are in place to ensure that the normalcy return to all the areas suffering banditry.

The president said that Nigerians are aware that his administration came to office determined to make impact in three major areas of security, building a sustainable economy and fight against corruption.

He added that “we can say that the recent positive developments in these areas have shown that , despite the challenges on ground, we can see general improvement in all the three areas.”

In the area of corruption, according to Mr Buhari, “Nigerians are aware that my administration is determined to ensure that the country do not have a repeat of what had gone on in the previous administrations and we have taken a strong stance against perversive corruption.

“This administration has also focused on security by repositioning our national securities to perform their duties effectively. We have equally embarked on some crucial changes in their funding structure and mode of operation.

“In a world, where insecurity is constantly evolving, the enforcement responses have to equally evolve, not just to keep up, but to stay ahead.

“This administration has signed into law, the new police act to esnure improvement in the welfare and service delivery to reach the best international practices.

“The Boko Haram insurgency, the Indigenous People of Biafra, Eastern Security Network and banditry in some parts of the country over time, which had posed a portent threat to the country, had been significantly degraded and relative normalcy have returned to most towns and villages. 

“More efforts are in place to ensure that the normalcy return to all the areas suffering banditry,” he said.

 Buhari added that “I commend the effort and resilience of the Nigeria Police Force and sister agencies for the giant strides recorded so far in the fight against the prevailing security challenges,”

While congratulating the graduands, Mr Buhari urges them to be dedicated, diligent and honest in the discharge of their duties, calling on them to out the development of Nigeria at forefront.

Earlier in his remarks, the Commandant, Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, AIG Abdurrahman Ahmad ennumerated the challenges being fa es by the institution, urging the president to come.to their aid.

According to him, acute shortage of manpower, both academic and non-academic is bidevilling the collage, thereby hindering the academic and administrative needs of the academy.

He also decried delay in timely payment of cadets’ stipends/allowances, calling for the support to the academy to complete “abandoned Police Reform Projects such as perimeter fence, faculty buildings and lecture theatres.

“We are in acute shortage of Manpower both Academic and Non Academic to handle Academic and Administrative needs of the academic needs.

“We are today with the threat of desertification leading to the destruction of roofs while inadequate power supply has since becomes daily occurrences, for which we urged the President to put a dedicated power line from Wudil and upgrade the 2.5MV to 7.5MV.

“It is not hyperbole to State here that the annual budgetery allocation of the Nigeria Police Academy is grossly inadequate to finance developmental projects that will facilitate peaceful learning and working environment.

“It is against this backdrop that I’m appealing for increase budgetary allocation, both Capital and Recurrent budget as it will go a long way in addressing the Academy Challenges,” he appealed.

Ahmad, however, commended the government and other stakeholders for their supports and interventions to the academy, which according to him, enabled the institution executed some meaningful projects.