Buhari tasks Armed Forces on counter insurgency operations
.Extends tenure of NDDC management c’ttee
.Approves N6.25bn for COVID-19 support by NDDC
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the nation’s Armed Forces to sustain ongoing counter insurgency operations on the fringes of Lake Chad and the entire North East so that the Boko Haram menace can be totally eliminated.
Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement, said the President gave the directive after receiving in audience Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe in the State House, Abuja, on Thursday.
Buhari, who noted with satisfaction the giant strides being recorded by the Armed Forces in the fight against insurgency, urged them not to relent in the discharge of their mandate.
He specifically warned against complacency in the task of ensuring that the nation’s territory is no longer habitable for the terrorists so that sustainable peace and development can be achieved.
This, according to him, is necessary towards ensuring that farming and other socio-economic activities in the area are not disrupted.
He expressed the belief that ”health and well-being of the nation depends largely on its ability to feed itself and agricultural production is key”.
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Buhari also tasked the Yobe governor to continuously mobilise community support for the military operations, saying intelligence sharing and synergy between law enforcement agencies and the civil populace are critical towards achieving the objectives.
The governor, who earlier briefed the President on the security situation in his state, appreciated the Federal Government for the decisive and proactive measures being employed in the renewed onslaught against the Boko Haram terrorists.
He noted that significant achievements had been recorded by the military in containing the criminal elements now in disarray after the recent operations by the Chadian Military.
According to the governor, if the tempo is maintained Boko Haram will soon become history.
Meanwhile, President Buhari has extended the tenure of the interim management committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) from May 1 to December 31. The committee is led by Prof. Keme Pondei.
Mr. Femi Adesina, the president’s spokesman confirmed the development in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.
According to Adesina, the extension is to cover the period of the forensic audit of the NDDC, earlier approved by the Federal Executive Council, under the chairmanship of the president.
Adesina said that in the same vein, the president had also approved that the NDDC should provide intervention support, amounting to N6.25 billion to complement efforts of the federal and State Governments against further spread of COVID-19 in the nine states in the Niger Delta.
”The materials and supplies are to be done through emergency procurement method as provided in Sections 42(b) (c) and 43 of the Public Procurement Act, 2007,” he added.
