Military Moves to Support Ministry of Works Towards Restoring Normalcy on the Nation’s Highways

Paschal Emeka, Abuja | Posted April 17 2024

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa has assured the Minister of Works, Engr. Nweze David Umahi of full backing of Nigerian military in his efforts towards realizing the road infrastructure objectives of the Renewed Hope Administration (RHA) of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

This was disclosed in a press release from the minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji on Tuesday.

According to Barr. Orji, this assurance was conveyed by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, during a courtesy call to the Honourable Minister of Works on Tuesday.

Speaking during the courtesy call the Defence Chief commended the determination of the minister to return Nigeria’s roads to their lost glory, due to the importance of road to the socio-economic transformation.

Noting that road is important to national security, he said: “We are following your activities on the internet, and we know you’re almost everywhere. I want to commend you for the efforts you are putting in. We know how determined you are to ensure that our roads are back.

“We all know that without roads, there can be no peace. That’s true for rural areas and urban areas. Roads are significant and very important to the growth of any nation. Despite all the challenges, we’ve seen how comments have been made, both professionally and unprofessionally, to your person, but you’ve been strong. I want to encourage you, sir, that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is solidly behind you. We will continue to provide every necessary support that you require. We are just a phone call away. Whatever there is, that you would want us to do for you, be rest assured, we will be there, because we know the relevance and importance of having good roads in any society.”

While appealing to the minister to intervene on the deplorable condition of some roads in the North East, he said that bandits were taking advantage of the poor conditions of roads in the area to defy and relegate security operations. The CDS therefore informed that the areas where the military were recording high casualties of both manpower and equipment, especially in Maiduguri, were the areas the bandits use Improvised Explosive Devices ( IEDs) in their attacks, knowing fully well the deplorable conditions of the roads in those areas.

Responding, the minister hailed him for the wonderful work the Armed Forces have been doing to rejig the security architecture and rid the nation of banditry. He also commended Mr. President for the successes he has recorded in the fight against banditry in Nigeria. The CDS said that the military deserved the support of all Nigerians in their efforts and sacrifices to secure the citizenry.

Decrying the recent brutal killing of the military personnel in Okuama Delta State and thanked the military for their sense of maturity in the face of the needless provocation, he said: “Let me offer my deepest condolences to you for your personnel that were brutally murdered at Okuama in Delta State, while doing everything to ensure peace and security in the area. Let me thank Mr. President ans the military led by you for the maturity. Those personnel, killed had parents, children, and wives. Our hearts go out to you and their families, and we condemn that very terrible and barbaric act. We caution those who are making very unhealthy statements on the matter, as if the lives that were lost were the lives of animals”

Assuring the CDS of the ministry’s readiness to address the concerns of the military on the roads as he requested, Umahi said: “Let me appreciate your concerns over our roads, especially as it affects your programmes in North East. And let me assure you that when we get those routes and your major concerns, we are going to analyze them to know the ongoing projects among them, and then know why the projects are slow in their execution. It could be for the reason of funding. Everything has become a priority in our road sector development. We would like to analyze it and together we will take it to Mr. President, who has put the security of life and property ahead of any other thing.” He further said, “I’m very sure that Mr. President, as usual, will give it the desired attention. It’s not his will that any person will die for the reason of a bad road. So I’m reassured by the character and the content of Mr. President that something will be done. We have to get our designs and figures right, and together, we can do that.”