Nigeria ready to tackle insecurity, says Tunji-Ojo

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo says Nigeria is prepared to address the security challenges bedeviling the country.

The minister said this on Thursday when he paid an unscheduled visit to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) FCT Command and the Federal Fire Service command.

Tunji-Ojo during the surveillance operation said that President Bola Tinubu had given a marching order to ensure the agencies under the ministry were in the right perspective for optimum and perfect delivery of service.

“The president is putting all hands on deck to make sure that we have a safe Nigeria. The issue of safety and security of a nation is a work in progress and we are doing a lot,” he said.

While inspecting the ongoing construction of the NSCDC FCT command training ground, Tunji-Ojo said that the corps alongside sister agencies are taking proactive steps to ensure the preparedness of personnel in combating insecurity.

“Paramilitary service is about constant and effective training and capacity building and the NSCDC has a major role to play.

“The FCT command seems to be up and doing and I am happy with the training center and you can only give what you have.”

He said he was there to see their preparedness and if they are forward thinking, adding that with what he saw they were prepared and thinking ahead.

“We must keep training, retraining and investing in training so that these gallant officers can continue to give their best to Nigeria,” the minister said.

The minister assured that the ministry will continue to render its support to the paramilitary agencies to excel.

“The president has given us all the support. So it is my responsibility as the minister under the leadership of Mr President to give all the support and that’s why I am here,” he said.

Tunji-Ojo charged paramilitary officers and men to discharge their responsibilities effectively, efficiently and with utmost respect for fundamental rights.

He said that the ministry will continue to conduct unscheduled on-the-spot assessment of paramilitary commands across the country.

The minister, however, expressed displeasure over the state of the Federal Fire Service (FFS) in Wuse station.

“I have expressed my views on things I am not too comfortable with and those issues, I will take them up with the FFS Controller General.

“The fire service is a rescue service agency and a rescue service agency is meant to be prepared for emergencies at all times.

“Those issues are not issues I want to discuss at the moment but they are issues that we will take up and make sure that things are corrected,” he said.