Better equipment, inadequate training, poor welfare: Security chiefs table challenges before Reps

Service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun, have outlined their challenges in tackling insecurity in the country.

They listed their challenges when they appeared before the House of Representatives on Tuesday in Abuja.

Persecondnews reports that the meeting is coming after the House of Representatives expressed disappointment last week over the absence of the service chiefs and heads of security agencies, who sent representatives to the plenary session and were rejected.

The service chiefs include the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen.Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, and the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice- Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.

Ogalla requested that the National Assembly intervene in enhancing surveillance to cover the backwaters, creeks, and other areas behind the coastline.

According to him, if this is done, oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal refining will be monitored 24 hours consistently.

IGP Egbetokun outlined some challenges within the force, including poor logistics, inadequate patrol vehicles for police divisions, inadequate training, and poor welfare for personnel.

CDS Musa requested improved funding, disclosing that every military man including himself is fed on N1,500 per day.

The defence chief requested the collaboration of the judiciary to ensure that criminals are not released on technicalities and that special courts should be established to try high profile criminals.

He expressed concern that the release of the criminals has endangered the lives of security personnel, pointing out that one of them, Simon Ekpa, remains a menace and threat to the country and that action must be taken diplomatically.

On illegal mining across the country, Gen. Musa suggested that states should be allowed to take over the mining for proper management.