Barely 24 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari gave a marching order to security agencies to take the battle to the hideouts of insurgents in the North-East and eliminate them, he has again directed the military to immediately put a stop to theft of the nation’s crude oil by criminals and vandals in the Niger-Delta region.
The President, who gave the directive on Friday at the State House, Abuja, while receiving in audience the Central Working Committee of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), stressed that his administration will not allow a few criminals to have unfettered access to the nation’s crude oil supply. He stated that criminal activities on the high seas, where large vessels seek to hide in neighbouring countries would be checked, adding that “there should be no hiding place for such criminals, and our cooperation with neighbouring countries in halting these crimes is being strengthened and tightened”.
The President explained that investment in security assets had been at a huge cost, after several decades of negligence. He emphasised that his confidence in the Nigerian Armed Forces is unshaken, adding that he has charged the Chief of Defense Staff, (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, and his Service Chiefs to take the war to the criminals who have made life difficult for many Nigerians.
The President also said the public service remained the engine room of government, and should attract the “best and brightest’’ that would fuel policies with fresh ideas, while assuring that the Orosanye White Paper Report would be implemented after a review. He added that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, would submit the harmonised white paper once it had been concluded and assured that his administration remained focused on strengthening the service and ensuring it helps the government fulfill its objectives.
Speaking earlier, Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, said members of ASCSN had been supportive in actualising programmes and policies of the administration, describing the leadership as mostly public servants that were vast in civil service procedure, “so, when you negotiate with them, it is easy; and when you make the right point they know”.
