The Federal government has kick started the process of securing road project sites across the country with the constitution of an Ad Hoc Ministerial Committee on Security of Highways Construction projects
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, said it has become important for Nigerians to show patriotism by joining hands with security agencies to protect construction project sites across the country.
The ad hoc committee comprises retired military and security personnel selected from the Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
In a statement on Wednesday by the Ministry’s Director of Information, Olusola Abiola, the Minister emphasised the need for the move.
He said: “We are concerned about the security of our sites during construction and we believe strongly that if we have experienced security personnel who understand the terrain, it would go a long way in ensuring the security of the sites”.
Umahi, during an interaction with members of the Committee in Abuja, who are all retired military and security personnel drawn from the Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police Force, disclosed that the retired personnel were chosen by their different Service Chiefs based on their track record and experience.
Saying that the work of the Committee was a national assignment and urging them not to fail the nation, the Minister noted, “ came up with this idea of having one retired military officer and police from each of the geopolitical zones because of the security challenges being faced by contractors in the course of their work.
“There are some projects that were awarded in the North East, North West and South East for which the contractors handling those projects left the sites over the issue of insecurity, this has become a concern to us in the Ministry.”
While he stressed that the Ministry was counting on them to bring security to various construction sites scattered all over the country, Umahi urged the members of the Committee to demonstrate patriotism as individuals and as a group by putting the interest of the nation first in the discharge of the onerous responsibility before them.
On the nature of the task before the Committee and the reason for setting it up, Umahi emphasised that members are expected to work with the personnel of the Ministry at Zonal levels, pledging that all necessary assistance would be provided to ensure the success of their assignment.
He also appreciated the Service Chiefs for cooperating with the Ministry by responding promptly to the request of the Ministry leading to the establishment of the Committee.
The Permanent Secretary, Yakubu Kofarmata, expressed the appreciation of the Ministry to retired military personnel for offering themselves to serve their fatherland at this crucial time in the nation’s history.
He urged them to give their best in the discharge of their task in the interest of national development.
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