President Muhammadu Buhari said on Thursday that he inherited a nation that experienced bomb blasts with “frightening frequency even in cities”.
He stated this at the Passing Out Parade and Presidential Commissioning of 69th Regular Course Cadets of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna.
The president noted that the country was prepared to address the evolving and complex security situations confronting the country.
Buhari said that the goal of terrorists, insurgents and their sponsors was to destroy the reforms introduced by his administration to prevent collapse of the economy and revitalise the armed forces.
The president said his administration had invested heavily in infrastructure, with rail, roads, seaports, airports, and power sector revitalised through strategic rehabilitation and reconstruction.
“The same template has been applied in tackling the challenges in the housing, water resources, and health sectors.
“Unsurprisingly, the first targets of attacks by the terrorists are our thriving infrastructure which was intended to make life easier for Nigerians, such as roads, railways and power installations,” he said.
Buhari assured Nigerians that the military would deal with all security threats in any part of the country, as they did in the North East.
He charged the armed forces to protect key national infrastructure from vandals and enemies of state, as well as safeguard the economic and military capability of the nation.
Buhari also pledged to ensure peaceful and transparent elections in 2023.
“I am utterly committed to ensuring that the forthcoming elections are peaceful and transparent, and it is our collective responsibility to continue to work towards building a united and prosperous country,” he added.
The President reeled out some of the administration’s interventions to equip the military to tackle the security challenges in the country.
He recalled that the government “inherited a country at crossroads, with bombs going off with frightening frequency even in cities.”
According to him, the government has done well in confronting and managing the crisis.
“This administration has since coming on board, procured over 550 naval platforms out of which 319 have been delivered as a part of the aggressive fleet recapitalisation of the Nigerian Navy.
“We have also increased the number of Nigerian Air Force platforms by more than 38 per cent and enhanced the serviceability rate of aircraft in the Nigerian Air Force inventory by over 70 per cent,” he said.
Buhari added that the Nigerian Army had received more than 2,000 units of various armoured fighting vehicles and equipment.
He commended the military for both the kinetic and non-kinetic approaches they have adopted in tackling some of Nigeria’s security challenges.
“Just yesterday, relief came for our country as the remaining 23 victims of the March 28 Abuja-Kaduna train attack were released by the heinous terrorists.
“This feat was not achieved without our military, as the interventionist Chief of Defence Staff Action Committee set up by General LEO Irabor was at the centre of the development, along with sister security agencies.
“I say bravo to our soldiers, officers and gentlemen,” he said.
He assured that the government would continue to use military and non-military methods to tackle the evolving security challenges.
To the Cadets, the President tasked them to serve as unifying and incorruptible models of Nigerians, and strive to protect the nation at all cost.
“You emerged in an era of expanding global security threats, and in the past seven years, we have set aside high-tech platforms and prioritised your needs to facilitate your training and commissioning,” he said.
A report by NAN indicated that President Buhari, accompanied by Governors, Ministers and Service Chiefs, later visited the 23 Abuja-Kaduna train passengers released from captivity on Wednesday after about six months in the hands of terrorists.
The passengers are currently receiving treatment at the NDA hospital in Kaduna.
