The Federal Government has been told that its failure to exhibit strong political will in dealing with the Boko Haram insurgency in the country was responsible for the group assuming that they are gaining a upper hand.
Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Audu-Bida (rtd), who made the disclosure, weekend, also described the Nigerian Military as a competent force with the training, desire and capability that only needs the political support and motivation to defeat terrorism in the country.
The former Director General of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, noted that the Nigerian Airforce on its part is fully capable of dealing with the situation once and for all if allowed to.
AVM Audu Bida who was speaking on the activities of The International Emergency Management Society, TIEMS, with regards to managing disasters more proactively in the North eastern region of the country, expressed sadness about the mayhem and wanton killings as well as senseless destruction going on in the Northeast
His words: “It is a sad thing that the terrorists group can hold us to ransom in this country with the capability of armed forces, whose exploits in Liberia and Sierra-Leone has remained a world record till today.”
On the Ebola epidemic, AVM Audu-Bida, said that the “Federal Government should immediately take a cautionary step by closing all the borders until the situation is stabilised.”
“Knowing our culture, it is possible that so many Nigerians living in Liberia, Sierra Leone and other African countries would want to rush back home to escape the Ebola scourge and if this is not stopped, the impact will be disastrous because we don’t have the wherewithal to handle such a challenge. So the best thing is to close the borders in the interim” he said.“The military capacity to deal with the terrorist threats is not in doubt, they are competent and well trained, but what is needed is the political will, even on that it is very difficult and requires cooperation of all stakeholders and arms of government, especially the National Assembly.”
