* Says Buhari's Approval Of Houses For 1994 Super Eagles, A Reward For Excellence
By Chinwendu Agoha (Governance Reporter)
The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has described reports of the improved security situation in the country as a testament to President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration's single-minded commitment to tackling insecurity in the country.
The group said in a statement by its Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke that the reports also show that the security agencies are living up to expectations.
"We find it gratifying that at least two independent bodies are reporting levels of improvement in the security situation in Nigeria, few weeks after President Buhari gave his words on what was then seen as an intractable challenge
"Perhaps the more interesting of the two reports is the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) which noted the country's successes in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents.
"For the avoidance of doubt, the GTI, which is published by an independent and non-profit think tank, the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), showed that total deaths from terrorism in Nigeria fell to its lowest level since 2011.
"We see this is as a remarkable feat in a country that once saw insurgents massacre an entire community in the course of their mindless bloodletting.
"In addition to this is a report that terror-related casualties dropped by almost half compared with the previous year. An independent news outlet-Premium Times reported that fewer people were killed in Nigeria last week than any other week since the beginning of the year".
BMO noted that the armed forces deserve commendation for ensuring a reduction in terror-related casualties, but also urged them to sustain the momentum.
"The feat clearly has a lot to do with improved performance of officers and men of the armed forces in the aftermath of a marching order from President Buhari following a January 5 incident when bandits invaded about five communities in Zamfara State and killed over 200 villagers while also setting many houses ablaze.
"We want to place it on record that it was in the middle of a military operation against the terrorists who then indulged in indiscriminate killings.
"We urge Nigerians to note that the decline in the number of terrorism-related deaths in Nigeria is as a result of efforts by the Nigerian authorities to go after all terrorists, including those usually described as bandits.
"We also acknowledge that the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt General Lucky Irabor recently assured that peace was gradually returning to troubled parts of the country due to the efforts of security agencies and para-military organizations".
The group urged Nigerians to continue to trust in the capacity of the President to ensure that security challenges in the country are reduced to the barest minimum.
In a related development, the BMO applauded the approval by President Muhammadu Buhari for the allocation of houses for 22 members of the 1994 Super Eagles in their various States as an appreciation on the part of the Federal Government, and reward for citizens’ loyalty and excellence in their various fields of endeavour.
The group noted in a statement that as part of the inauguration of the Federal Government’s completed homes under the National Housing Programme (NHP) which was held in Lafia, Nasarawa State, the President used the opportunity to reward the 1994 Super Eagles team for doing Nigeria proud by winning the coveted African Cup of Nations.
"We consider this as a demonstration of good faith on the part of the Buhari administration by recognising citizens who had brought glory to the country despite that it has been 28 years ago.
"This is a trademark of an administration that remembers the good works of citizens and as a way of encouraging them and other citizens to continue along that line, has deemed it necessary to reward the Super Eagles team.
"We believe that if this trend of rewarding deserving citizens is sustained, it will definitely spur other citizens to work hard towards bringing more international honours to their country. This is a clear demonstration of the value President Muhammadu Buhari attaches to the reward of hard work, excellence, patriotism and dedication to duty by the citizens".
BMO says it also believes that with this recognition for the 1994 Super Eagles team, "President Muhammadu Buhari’s name will be written in gold by posterity as he will always be remembered as the leader who never took the citizens’ patriotic contributions for granted.
"This is the only way to mobilise the patriotic fervour of the citizens towards the country, and this is the path that many developed countries toed, and which galvanised their peoples to nation-building", the statement added. NNL.
