Modern Equipment Necessary To Combat Banditry and Criminality, says Matawalle.

Modern Equipment Necessary To Combat Banditry and Criminality, says Matawalle.

By Izuchukwu Ozoemena

Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, says increased funding for the Defence sector to effectively combat and eliminate banditry and other forms of criminality across the nation is necessary. Increased collaboration among different arms of security agencies is also necessary.

The Minister made this appeal during the presentation of the 2025 Budget Proposal for the Ministry of Defence to the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Defence at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.

Emphasizing the importance of robust collaboration with the legislature, the Minister commended the unwavering commitment and cooperative efforts of the House and Senate Committees on Defence. Their steadfast support, he noted, has been instrumental in the Ministry’s achievements till date.

Concerning the critical issue of funding, he described the current budget as insufficient given the modern security challenges at hand.
“With the right equipment, we can significantly resolve the battle against banditry,” he stated.

He recalled that the Ministry of Defence is tasked with providing essential equipment to various regions, a goal that has remained unfulfilled due to budget constraints.

t“In 2024, we were only able to procure some Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs). We need more APCs to tackle insecurity swiftly ” he stated.

The Minister expressed his hope that the legislative bodies would consider increasing the budget allocation for the Ministry of Defence, enabling the provision of necessary equipment and facilitating a decisive action against banditry in areas experiencing fresh attacks.

He extended his gratitude to the leadership of the committees for their continued support, emphasizing that their cooperation has significantly contributed to the Ministry’s progress.

In response, the leadership of the committees assured Minister Matawalle of their ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Defence to ensure the successful realization of President’s Renewed Hope Agenda on Security.

The Minister was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ambassador Gabriel Tanimu Aduda, and Directors