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INSECURITY: Buhari issues directive for ‘speedy’ approval of licences for drones to monitor forests

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INSECURITY: Buhari issues directive for ‘speedy’ approval of licences for drones to monitor forests

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met with northern traditional leaders at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The president, during the meeting, said the entire structure of the Nigerian Police Force is being overhauled, re-positioned and fitted with modern technological gadgets to meet rising challenges across the nation.

He also said that an intelligence loop among all security outfits has been created.

According to Buhari, the ongoing reform of the police will include recruitment of more hands, cultivation of stronger local intelligence and networking with communities, traditional rulers, as well as adequate training.

He added that the return of the Ministry of Police Affairs was purposely to drive the new initiative of ensuring proper provision of security for lives and property, with proactive intelligence gathering to nip crimes in the bud before they escalate.

“I have decided to meet with Your Highnesses to assure you that the government is determined to tackle and deal decisively with all security challenges facing us as a nation.

“This consultation, therefore, is to engage you, our royal fathers, so that, collectively, we can arrive at solutions to any and all security problems in the country.

“We must all play our part to finally address these security challenges, particularly traditional rulers, in your respective communities, where you feel the pulse of the people, being the closest to the populace at the grassroots level,” he said.

President Buhari urged the traditional rulers to provide more support to security agencies with their versatile knowledge of communities and individuals.

On his recent promise to traditional rulers from the South-West, Buhari said “directives have been issued to the appropriate federal authorities to speedily approve licensing for states requesting the use of drones to monitor forests and other criminal hideouts.”

READ ALSO: P&ID: Buhari, not Jonathan muddled up $9bn judgment debt against Nigeria

In his remark, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, who led the northern traditional leaders at the meeting assured the president of the full support of traditional rulers in the country.

He said, “We have come to assure you of our total support, total commitment and undiluted dedication to moving the nation forward as one of the best countries of the world.”

He said the traditional thrones in various communities predated the amalgamation of the protectorates and all the forefathers had always upheld the virtues of peace, unity and stability, assuring the President that royal fathers across the country had been in constant communication on the security challenges, promising to support the government to succeed.

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