Defence minister Muhammad Badaru says President Bola Tinubu’s administration is working hard to restore normalcy in areas affected by communal clashes and insurgency.
Mr Badaru stated this during a two-day working visit to the Nigerian Defence Academy, Command Engineering Depot, Rigachikun Kaduna, and Air Force Institute of Technology, which began on Tuesday.
The minister stated that in Birnin Gwari, kinetic and non-kinetic measures had been taken, stating that the situation had returned to normalcy.
“Markets are opening, and traffic is flowing freely,” Mr Badaru said.
He acknowledged that some states were still experiencing small attacks and assured that the government was doing its best to address the issues.
In Benue, where communal clashes between farmers and herders were a major concern, the minister emphasised the need for a non-kinetic approach to appease the parties involved and prevent further attacks.
He added that in the North-East, particularly in Borno, the resurgence of Boko Haram required a robust response, stating that the military was working to counter the threat.
Mr Badaru expressed confidence in the military’s ability to tackle the new threat and restore normalcy.
He said, “The troops are doing wonderfully well and will continue to do so with the special grace of God and the public’s prayers.
The minister also commended the research and development work being carried out at the military institutions in Kaduna.
Mr Badaru expressed satisfaction with the progress being made in producing essential equipment for the armed forces, including MRAPs, UAVs, and other innovative technologies at the depot.
The minister specifically praised the production of MRAPs at the depot. He also commended the workshop’s maintenance and repair capabilities, stating that most damaged MRAPs and tanks are repaired at the depot.
Additionally, Mr Badaru commended the new Buffalo MRAP and other equipment built by the institutions.
Regarding the training of military officers, Mr Badaru reiterated the crucial role of the NDA in producing highly committed officers.
He reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to supporting the NDA and ensuring that it had the necessary resources to train effective officers.
