Minister of Defence, Dr Mustapha Shetima, has stated that the rising spate of militancy in the Niger Delta, despite Federal Govern-ment’s intervention and effort aimed at ensuring rapid development of the region, is giving President Umar Yar’Adua some concerns.
Particularly worrisome, according to the minister, is the recent attack on a helicopter on oil operation duties that was shot at by unknown gunmen.
He lamented that the activities of militants are continuously having negative impact on the nation’s economy.
Shetima said the recent incidents were matters of concern to everybody, “and I can say, with all seriousness, that the president is concerned about what is happening in this part of the country.”
The minister’s revelation came as the Nigerian Army gave reasons for its reluctance in deploying full force in the troubled region.
Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Chris Kolade, who was on a familiarisation tour to THISDAY, Abuja office, yesterday said that even though the Nigerian troops deployed to the region were properly equipped to face the antics of the militants, the Army was mindful of the fact that the situation there is not that of war.
“The Nigerian Army training arrangement is such that soldiers are capable of responding to situations as they come up. We are conscious of one fact and that has been an element that has been passed to every soldier, which is Nigeria is not at war. We are not considering the situation in the Niger Delta as if we are in a battle and that calls for peculiar tactics such that at the end of it you don’t see that we have overrun our bothers and sisters, so that philosophy guides the actions of our troops deployed in the region”.
Kolade who commended the technology put in place by THISDAY to ensure her readers get to read the newspaper as early as possible, said equipping of the military was also crucial in the rebranding philosophy of the government. He said Nigerian Army contributing more troops in peacekeeping both within and outside the country, was already leading in rebranding the image of Nigeria .
“Nobody goes to war at his expense according to the scriptures, so whenever I wear this uniform the responsibility for keeping it on me, depends on the political authority of the day,” he said.
The equipping of the troops is to the extent that those who make provisions also recognise that the nation’s image is at stake by the level of equipment we bring out there and I think the government has been responding positively in that direction and the Army has made it clear what it needs to make its job efficient. “We are aware that the National Assembly which is crucial to budgetary allocations has been touring a lot of military locations to know the various peculiarities and I am sure that will be reflected when the budget is eventually passed”.
The Army Spokesman also stressed the need for the media, army partnership in the process of rebranding Nigeria . “The philosophy of government is rebranding and we believe the Nigerian army is a brand that is sellable for the nation. x”For instance our involvement in peacekeeping, many people have not been to Nigeria and may never be but they have contacts with the Nigerian soldiers,” he said. He reiterated the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Abdularahman Dambazzau’s vision which include discipline, upholding the core values of the army, keeping to military ethics, an army that will retain its reputation as the pride of the nation and an excellent civil-military relations. xThe Defence Minister had stated earlier: “The economy of the country, for now, largely depend on the resources that are available in this part of the country. What is happening with militancy, bunkering and all sorts of activities is actually and physically affecting the revenue of the nation.”
Shetima disclosed that the president was determined to take necessary steps to bring the situation under control, stressing that “he (Yar’Adua) is concerned about the recent event of the unfortunate attack on helicopter.”
Welcoming the minister, Bayelsa state Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva agreed with the Federal Government on the worrisome pattern the situation in the Niger Delta region had taken .
He said the Federal Government needed to change its style of managing the problem in the region and tackle it head-on by offering leverages to those interested in peace and rule of law.