The Honourable Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammad Maigari Dingyadi has assured Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria of the willingness of the Federal government to partner with China to enhance the security of the country.
He stated this during a courtesy visit by the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Cui Jianchun to the Ministry Headquarters in Abuja.
The Minister stated that the entire world is much aware that Nigeria is facing serious security problems and there is the need to work together to improve the security situation in the country.
According to him “as you are aware of terrorism and banditry in the North East, Northwest, North Central, and a secessionist movement in the South East, kidnapping and other criminal activities going on, unfortunately, Nigeria is not the only country facing these problems in Africa, our neighboring countries also share in these problems with us”.
He noted that with the support of the international communities, Nigeria should be able to solve these problems and extend solutions to neigbouring sister countries adding that the most important thing is to succeed in the security reforms agenda set for the country by Mr. President.
Dingyadi reiterated that the issue of security cannot be separated from poverty and unemployment and noted the federal government effort to reduce the situation through poverty alleviation programs and the creation of opportunities for youths in the various sector of the economy to curb a drift to criminal activities.
The Minister pointed out government is making effort to boost and motivate the morale of the security personnel to actualize their responsibility to the citizens as they have sworn to maintain peace, protect and secure the country despite the recent activities that tend to lower their morale in discharging their duties.
He added that the government has started the process to reactivate the CCTV project base on Public-Private Partnership through the selection of concessioner among the private organizations that bided for the project and the concessioner has started working to resuscitate the CCTV project.
Dingyadi reiterated the need to work closely to ensure that more infrastructure, investment, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) technologies and security equipment/training programme as well as industries into the country to create more employment opportunities, security and reduce poverty in the country.
The Minister noted that security of lives and properties is the responsibility of everybody and the need to share information and intelligence gathering that would enable security agencies to respond better to situations in the future.
Earlier, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Cui Jianchun said that China and Nigeria have had a profound diplomatic relationship for the past 50 years and there is the need to work together to improve on bilateral relations and intelligence sharing.
He said his priority is to build a strategy for both countries to work together in the political field, economy, and military cooperation, Information and Communication Technology, security, people-to-people ties and to improve the infrastructure of the country.
In his words, “I want to emphasize priority areas, the first is infrastructure, how can we improve the infrastructure of the country? The second is about Information and Communication Technology (ICT), China is taking the lead in 5G technology and really has a great impact in every way of life and industries as well as value-added industries. I think both countries can work together to bring more investment”.
Bolaji O. Kazeem
Head (Press & Public Relations Unit)
April 28, 2021
