Badaru: Security has seriously improved… most highways now safe

Mohammed Badaru, minister of defense, says security has “seriously” improved across the country while most highways shut down due to the activities of gunmen have been reopened.

In a statement issued by Henshaw Ogubike, the spokesperson of the ministry of defense, the minister said the recently established livestock ministry has also solved the farmers-herders clashes in the country.

“There is a serious improvement in security as most of the roads and highways hitherto closed due to insecurity have been opened,” the statement reads.

“Herders and farmers clashes have been solved by the creation of the livestock ministry, and many farmers have returned to their farms.”

The minister said there is massive surrendering of insurgents while high-profile terrorist kingpins have been arrested.

‘YOUTHS SHOULD SHELVE PROTEST’

Badaru asked youths to suspend the planned nationwide protest billed to start on August 1, noting that President Bola Tinubu is working to address the challenges facing the nation.

While urging youths “to come to a roundtable and dialogue” with the federal government, the minister said Tinubu’s reforms are yielding results, adding that the nation’s economy is on a gradual and steady path of recovery.

One of Tinubu’s initiatives, he said, is the introduction of the student loan scheme to increase access to higher education and reduce the financial burden on students.

He said the increase in funding for infrastructure such as roads, rails, energy, irrigation (dams and channels), and the directive for crude oil to be sold to indigenous refining companies are “robust efforts” aimed at economic growth.

Badaru said the president took a bold step by pushing for LG autonomy for effective accountability and development at the grassroots to strengthen governance.