We're Ready To Stop Oil Theft, Armed Insurgency, Banditry — Military

The military high command announced over the weekend that the armed forces are ready to put an end to oil theft in the Niger Delta region and that security forces remained committed to stopping armed insurgency and banditry, as well as ensuring free, fair, and secure elections in 2023.

Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) stated during the Third Quarter Route March for Nigerian Navy Personnel in Abuja that the military was committed to ensuring that pipeline and oil theft were controlled.

He said that the military was committed to stopping oil theft and ensuring that crude oil production was increased in accordance with President Muhammadu Buhari's direction.

“I want to assure the general public that the Nigerian military will abide by our constitutional responsibilities and maintain our territorial integrity from any kind of threat.

“In line with the president’s directive, we are going to bring cases of pipeline vandalism to an end.

"This is a mandate that we intend to achieve,” he said.

Before the administration's end, he pledged that the Nigerian Navy will stop at nothing to bring some level of safety and security to the whole maritime domain.

"We will make sure that oil production is increased", he declared.

Rear Admiral Saidu Garba spoke on behalf of Gambo stated that with regard to the 2023 elections, the Nigerian Navy is ready to assist the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigerian Police as needed to ensure that Nigerians could cast their ballots without being interfered with.

Regarding the route march planned for naval troops, he said it was intended to assure personnel's mental and physical health in the effort to put an end to insurgency and actively contribute to a successful general election in 2023.

Contrary to rumours in some quarters that the next elections might not take place in some regions of the nation due to security concerns, the election, according to Baba, would go place nationally as planned by the INEC.

Usman Baba, the Inspector-General of Police added that the Nigerian Police, the military, and other security agencies were all set to guarantee free, fair, credible, and acceptable elections in 2023.

Solomon Arase, a former inspector general of police, has also warned the media to provide fair coverage as the country prepares for its upcoming general election.

The IG, who spoke in Abuja, cautioned political actors to follow the laws of the game and to stop overheating the system. He claimed that because of INEC's numerous innovations, the country had seen the end of ballot box snatching for good.

Speaking at a conference and retreat for senior police officers in Owerri, Imo State, the IG said that the Nigerian Police and other security forces were ready to ensure "free, fair, credible, and acceptable polls come 2023." He did so through Force Public Relations Officer and Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

The senior police officers from the ranks of the commissioner of police, the presidential candidates of all the registered political parties, and members of other security forces, according to him, would all be present at the Owerri retreat to plan strategies for the orderly conduct of the elections.

“We are assuring Nigerians and the international community that the 2023 general election will hold as planned by the Independent National Electoral Commission in all the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

“The country is enjoying relative peace now and we are going to sustain this, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari has promised times without numbers to give the nation peaceful free and fair elections, come 2023.

“The president has been keeping to his words by encouraging us and the security forces towards achieving this, we will have no excuse to fail the nation.

"Nigerians have been helping the police and other security agencies with credible information in their localities.

“So, there is no cause for concern about the general election.

"We are working hard to make the polls a huge success likewise the INEC is doing the same thing.

"If you snatch ballot papers or boxes from one location to another location, you are only wasting your time, because with the new arrangements being put in place by INEC, such electoral materials will not be valid in the location you are taking them to.

"You will be caught by security agents and be made to face the law.

“Arrangements are in top gear to secure the electorate, electoral officials and citizens, 2023 elections will be the best in the annals of our dear country, there is no security threat now and we don’t envisage any in future,” he assured.

The Imo State government and Matchmakers Consult International organised the third edition of the conference and retreat for senior police officials with the goal of giving the country legitimate elections, according to the police chief.

Arase, who presided over the ceremony to present the Corporate Excellence Award to the National Examination Council (NECO) and the Integrity Award to Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, the registrar, claimed that only fair reporting could advance journalism to new heights and unite a divided country.

Arase further counselled lawmakers to have tolerance and good sportsmanship whether they prevailed or lost during the award ceremony, which was put on by the Verbatim News Network Limited.

“For the media, your reportage should be balanced, take journalism to new heights of investigation and make sure your facts are properly spelt out.

“For the political gladiators, I want to tell them to practice tolerance and if they lose, there are more elections to come and for that will win, I want them to extend their hands of fellowship to those, who have lost,” he said.

On his part, Wushishi appreciated the organisation for the award, stressing that the institution would continue to ensure credibility and uphold its mandates.

“This award is very significant because it means that we are delivering on the mandates of the council.

“Today, NECO is in the news for good, because that institution is key to Nigeria’s development, due to its status of being the largest indigenous examination body in the country and in Africa.

“So, every family in Nigeria has a stake in that institution and we have done so much to see that things are done within the framework that established the institution,” he said.