Christopher Musa, Minister of Defence, says the federal government is considering reintroducing toll gates equipped with modern surveillance technology to curb kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities on Nigeria’s highways.
Musa spoke at an event organised by the All Progressives
Congress (APC) and convened by Ismaeel Ahmed, executive chairman and chief
executive officer (CEO) of the presidential initiative on compressed natural
gas and electric vehicles (PiCNG & EV).
The event was titled “Promise to proof: The renewed hope
conversation”.
He said the proposed tollgates would serve not only as
revenue collection points but also as security checkpoints where technology
could identify, monitor and track vehicles without requiring motorists to stop
for manual payments.
Responding to concerns about insecurity on major highways
and a suggestion that motorists could contribute to security funding through
tollgate levies, Musa supported the proposal, saying Nigeria might have made a
mistake by dismantling tollgates.
He said the system must be backed by technology capable of
identifying vehicles through their registration numbers and processing payments
electronically.
The minister also advocated a stronger national
identification system incorporating personal identification numbers, facial
recognition and fingerprint technology to help security agencies establish
identities and track criminal networks.
On the military’s involvement in internal security
operations, Musa acknowledged that prolonged deployments across the country had
stretched the armed forces beyond their traditional responsibilities.
He said the military was working towards a gradual
withdrawal from internal security operations by strengthening the capacity of
the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to take over responsibilities within its
mandate.
According to him, the military was supporting the police
through training, operational assistance and other capacity-building
interventions, while the government pursued additional recruitment and
equipment procurement.
Musa said N5.4 trillion was allocated to defence in the 2026
budget, alongside plans to recruit an additional 12,000 personnel.
He said the funding would cover modern weapons, surveillance
systems and operational platforms to improve intelligence gathering, mobility,
firepower and rapid response.
Giving an account of recent military operations, the
minister said security forces had killed more than 300 terrorists and bandits,
including over 10 commanders, in operations conducted in the week preceding his
presentation.
He attributed the progress against terrorism, banditry and
kidnapping to improved intelligence gathering, joint military operations and
stronger cooperation among security agencies.
Musa, however, identified porous borders as a major obstacle
to tackling insecurity, noting that Nigeria’s extensive borders, particularly
with the Niger Republic, provided opportunities for criminal groups and arms
traffickers to move across the region.
He said Nigeria had maintained security relationships with
Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali despite their withdrawal from the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS), particularly in military training
and cooperation around border communities.
On local defence manufacturing, Musa said the government has
strengthened the country’s defence industry through legislative reforms and
partnerships with equipment manufacturers.
He urged Nigerians with expertise in cybersecurity, drone
manufacturing and other defence technologies to present their innovations for
possible collaboration with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria
(DICON).
The minister also urged citizens to report suspicious
activities in their communities to support security agencies in tackling
criminal operations.
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