The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has called for enhanced collaboration and increased funding to tackle banditry and other criminal activities across Nigeria.
According to a statement sent to Africa Health Report (AHR) on Thursday by the Director of Information and Public Relations of the ministry Daberechi Asonye, Speaking on Thursday during the presentation of the 2025 budget proposal for the Ministry of Defence at the National Assembly in Abuja, Matawalle stressed the need for modern equipment to address the nation’s security challenges.
The Minister commended the Senate and House Committees on Defence for their continued support, describing their cooperation as crucial to the Ministry’s achievements. However, he noted that the current budget allocation was insufficient to meet the growing security demands, citing the need for more Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to strengthen operations in vulnerable regions.
Matawalle appealed for an increased budget allocation to ensure the Ministry could supply essential equipment to areas experiencing new attacks and respond effectively to the evolving security threats. He emphasized that with adequate resources, the Ministry could significantly enhance its efforts in combating banditry and criminality.
The leadership of the defence committees assured the Minister of their commitment to collaborating with the Ministry to achieve the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda on Security. They pledged to work toward ensuring the Defence sector is adequately funded and equipped.
