Jonathan: Nigeria facing ‘trying moments’

President Goodluck Jonathan, expanding on the theme of his speech in Jos at the weekend, said today that Nigeria is going through “a trying moment”.

He spoke in Abuja while launching seven new police helicopters. In Jos at the weekend, at the fundraising for a new university, President Jonathan underscored security as the nation’s biggest challenge.

“This is quite a trying moment for this country in terms of security,” Jonathan said during the launch of the helicopters as well as 17 armoured personnel carriers and 20 patrol vehicles at the Eagle Square Abuja.

Nigeria is battling a raft of security challenges including an Islamist insurgency, piracy and frequent kidnappings of foreigners as well as nationals.

“We have challenges from the south to the north, from the east to the west,” Jonathan said.

The Boko Haram Islamist insurgency is estimated to have cost more than 3,000 lives since 2009, including deaths caused by the security forces.

Last Thursday, pirates stormed a cargo ship off Nigeria’s oil-producing southern coast, kidnapping five foreign sailors and stealing cash, a watchdog and a security source said Monday.

The International Maritime Bureau said “14 heavily armed pirates” boarded the vessel 45 nautical miles off the Nigerian town of Brass.

The Gulf of Guinea, which includes the waters off Benin, Nigeria and Togo, is as emerging piracy hub, where the number of attacks has risen for three consecutive years.

Kidnapped foreigners are often released following a ransom payment.

The pirates have also stolen crude oil from ships servicing Nigeria’s oil industry, the world’s eighth largest.

At the Abuja launch, Jonathan urged the police to live up to their assigned functions, adding that “a situation where hoodlums take over a state is not acceptable,” he said, while charging police authorities to make effective use of the new helicopters, APCs and patrol vehicles.

In demonstration of the commitment of his administration to support the Police in carrying out their assigned duties, the President said he will ensure that each of the state command has a helicopter to combat crime.

The President asked Nigerians to support the police while also urging the law enforcement agency to emulate the military in the maintenance of its equipments.

The Commissioning of the helicopters, vehicles and the communication equipment marked the grand finale of the 2013 Nigeria Police Week on the theme: “Connecting with the people for a more effective policing”. Mohammed Abubakar, the Inspector General of Police had earlier noted in his welcome address that the Police Week, which was last celebrated in 1976.

He added that the resuscitation of the event is an ample opportunity for police authorities to re-appraise its activities in the last one year, especially as it relates to security challenges and crime fighting.

“The Police is returning to the basics and the traditional values and practices of the Force are being restored.

“Today, the Force leadership is giving practical meaning to its firm determination to restore the lost glory of the Force and re-enact those practices, which bind the citizens to their police and elicit fond memories of the Force.

Seventeen officers of different ranks and file were also conferred with Presidential Awards for display of bravery, intelligence, expertise and counter insurgency during the event.

The recipients decorated by President Jonathan include ACP Okoro Damian-Nkem, DSP Mariam Ogunmolasuyi, ASPs Agbaje Ayoola Yakubu, Mu’awuyya Abubakar, Dennis Tumba and Saltuwa Brima among others.

The Police boss thanked President Jonathan for supporting his vision to transform the Police and for rewarding “deserving officers who have displayed exceptional gallantry and professional excellence in the line of duty and those that have paid the supreme sacrifice while discharging their constitutional mandate.”

.Ayo Oluokun with agency reports