Senator Ali Ndume has described President Bola Tinubu’s decision to expand the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and recruit 28,000 additional personnel as a positive step towards strengthening the country’s security.
The senator, who represents Borno South, said the creation of four new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City would improve Nigeria’s capacity to respond to security threats.
However, Ndume said establishing new divisions alone would not solve the country’s security challenges.
He urged the Federal Government to procure at least five attack helicopters for each of the six geopolitical zones and establish Special Task Force Brigades in the new divisions.
“Each division should be equipped with MRAPs, APCs and attack helicopters. Let every geopolitical zone have at least five attack helicopters for rapid response to give cover to ground troops,” he said.
He also said the success of the military depends on what he described as TEAM, meaning Training, Equipment, Ammunition and Motivation.
“It is good that 28,000 more personnel are being recruited. But it is not about numbers. It is about TEAM. These men need to be well taken care of. Morale is very low,” Ndume said.
The lawmaker called on the Tinubu administration to improve the salaries of soldiers and other security personnel.
“The Federal Government should increase the remuneration of the Army and other security agencies. Their basic salary should not be less than the Naira equivalent of $300. Even if we have to borrow, let the President borrow to equip our Armed Forces,” he added.
Ndume also praised troops fighting insurgents, particularly those under Operation Hadin Kai and the 82 Task Force Brigade in Gwoza, for their recent operations.
He commended them for rescuing more than 100 kidnapped victims, adding to the 360 people they had earlier freed from terrorists.
