Few days after President Bola Tinubu declared emergency on insecurity, former Leader of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has said that measures taken by the President are yielding desired results.
The Federal lawmaker gave the commendation in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday.
Checks revealed that, amidst the spate of kidnappings particularly of students of Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Papiri Catholic School, Niger State, and worshippers in a church in Kwara State, President Tinubu had taken certain measures to rout the terrorists.
One of such major measures was the declaration of state of emergency on security and the directive given to the Department of State Services to immediately deploy all the forest guards already trained to flush out the terrorists and bandits lurking in our forests.
Aside from adequate funding, President Tinubu, who vowed that "there will be no more hiding places for agents of evil," also dropped a hint to recruit additional personnel for the Nigerian Police Force and the Army.
On the directive to the DSS, Senator Ndume, said that "the directive to engage Forest Guards, coupled with their training, has gone a long way to complement efforts of the Nigerian Army and they are happy with that too."
The former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army commended the Federal Government for improvement in the welfare of men of the security forces, particularly the Army to boost their morale.
While he acknowledged that their salary has been doubled, he, however, maintained that "it is still not enough, compared to other Armed forces in the sub-region."
"I can see visible improvements in terms of cooperation between the Armed forces and other security agencies. That is very commendable."
"There is visible improvement in the kitting of the military in terms of New Arms, uniforms, Protection Helmets, Boots and Bulletproof Vests.
"But still, the government must do more by giving priority to arms and ammunition needed at the theatre of operations. They need to procure more attack helicopters, add more Armoured Personnel Carriers and Gun trucks."
The Federal lawmaker, incidentally from Borno South Senatorial district in the North East region equally commended his home state Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum whom he noted has shown determination to rout the insurgents.
He said: "He has invested over N100 billion, supporting the Nigerian Army, the Civilian JTF, Police and other Security Agencies.
"That has complemented the efforts of the Nigerian Army. That's very commendable. I urge other governors in the North to emulate him."