The Nigeria Police Force is spending up to N2.8bn
next year to fight terrorism in the country.
Minister of Police Affairs, Affairs, Navy Capt.
Caleb Olubode (retd.), said the money would be spent on procurement of
anti-terrorism equipment and other logistics.
He appeared before the House of Representatives
Committee on Police Affairs in Abuja on Monday to defend the N341.6bn budget
proposal for the Police in 2013.
Olubode told the committee that the police would
intensify “training in areas of emerging security challenges (particularly
terrorism) necessitating the need to develop the capability of the force to
respond appropriately” in the coming year.
Members of the committee, headed by Mr. Usman
Bello-Kumo, applauded the ministry for taking the terrorism challenge
seriously.
Bello-Kumo said, “With what is happening
now, we are left with no option than to give the police the much needed support
to fight terrorism.
“They need more funding to enable them to
purchase sophisticated and latest equipment to protect life and property of Nigerians
and their offices and formations.
“Terrorism cannot be tackled with archaic method
of crime fighting.”
The details of the anti-terrorism budget showed
that 10 states would get Explosives Ordinance Disposal Units next year.
The states are Lagos, Bauchi, Abia, Gombe,Jigawa,
Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Taraba and Zamfara).
Meanwhile, The Federal Government said it would
introduce satellite surveillance on the country’s borders to curb smuggling and
circulation of small arms.
The Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yarima
Ngama, said this on Monday in Katsina at the opening of the 2012
Comptroller-General of Customs Annual Conference.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that
Ngama said the Federal Ministry of Finance was working in conjunction with that
of Science and Technology to ensure the take off of the project.
He said the measure was in addition to the aerial
surveillance embarked upon by the Nigeria Customs Service along the country’s
borders.
Punch
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