By John Ikani
Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called on leaders at different levels to device smarter means of curbing the menace of insecurity ravaging the nation.
Osinbajo who made the call on Saturday at the grand finale of 45th Convocation Ceremony of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, added that the country must begin to manufacture its own weapons if it must quell insurgency, as the sale of weapons to tackle terrorism has been politicised.
While describing the local production of firearms as a means of tackling insurgency in the country, Osinbajo emphasised the need for the Federal Government to be smarter in policing the country, by using smart drones and surveillance equipment.
According to him: “The insecurity problem that we are experiencing, the rise of terrorism in some parts of the country, the access to illegal weaponry by non-state actors tell us that we must be smarter in policing the country using smart drones and surveillance equipment,” the VP said.
“The politicisation of means of purchase of weapons tells us that we must manufacture our own arms. Already, some Nigerian companies led by Profex, a Nigerian company is manufacturing APCs and exporting them to several African countries.”
He revealed that Profex, a Nigerian company, is already manufacturing APCs and exporting them to several African countries.
“Other companies and government owned Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) are manufacturing different types of ammunition. Yes, the challenges are much but the means to resolve them and the elements are here already. Young Nigerians are rising to the challenges facing the country.
“It is, however, said, right here in Ife, that it is effective economic planning and even more, effective implementation, that could help us to avoid a disaster and make phenomenal progress. And so, our National Development Plan 2021-2025 is an attempt to chart a path for the future, the future belongs far more to you graduands, so you need to pay more attention to it,” he added.
