Abuja – An NGO, Centre for Peace Advancement, has urged the Federal Government to re-build the defence sector, to contain the insurgency and other forms of insecurity in the country.
Mr Jaye Gaskia, National Coordinator of the NGO, made the call during an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.
He advised the government to desist from shopping around the black markets for arms to fight insurgents.
Gaskia recalled that Nigeria established the Defence Industry Corporation in 1964, the same year that Brazil established its own.
According to him, the Brazilian counterpart of the industry now manufactured heavy weapons, tanks and aircraft, among others.
“ It is a matter of regret that we are now looking for where to shop for arms because of the insurgency; the Federal Government should have a rethink and look inwards,íí he said.
He advised the government to motivate the security agents in enhancing their performances.
“The Boko Haram has just shown us that the military and other security agencies need to be re-orientated in enhancing their competence and performances,” he said.
“The implication is that the government is spending a huge sum of money annually to buy security ammunition,íí he said.
According to him, the amount used in the country for security can be the size of GDP of some countries but this has been invested in the armed forces in Nigeria.
He urged Nigerians to be careful in analysing government programmes and policies.
According to him, the inability of the armed forces sector to contain insecurity bedeviling the country is part of the reasons Nigerians now found themselves victims of Boko Haram.
“We are receiving collective punishments due to inability of the security agents to contain the insurgency at its inception,íí he said.