The Federal Government has expressed intention to adopt new measures in its determination to effectively tackle security concerns in the country, including engaging military personnel to carry out purely civil security matters that do not require wielding of munitions. President Goodluck Jonathan, who stated this at Oghara, Delta State, weekend, stressed that in the light of the inimical implications of violence and insecurity for all forms of meaningful growth and development in any given nation, Government was prepared to go the extra mile to ensure that peace and security prevailed in Nigeria. One of such measures, the president said, is to break the seeming long-standing rule in the country that military personnel considered themselves as playing their constitutional and professional roles only in matters or duties requiring the use of weapons. Dr Jonathan unveiled the government’s new security plans during his remarks at the headquarters of the Nigerian Navy Logistics Command, which he officially commissioned and the Federal Government took over yesterday on behalf of the Nigerian Navy. According to the President, “Government is thinking of various ways to use the armed forces, not only to assist police to maintain internal security; because whenever I visit some other countries I observe the roles played by the armed forces in other civil operations of Government. And, that is the way we must go in this country. “We have a lot of professionals in the army; well-trained professionals that will not limit their knowledge and professional practice only to management, handling and operations of weapons, but also about civil operations.” Lamenting the pervasive poor maintenance culture in the country, Jonathan said: “For today’s ceremony, a lot of us here are quite happy. We came into the compound; we looked around and see what the state government has put in place for us. I believe the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff (and) the Chief of Naval Staff will make sure that this is not a wasteful investment by the government of Delta State; that they make good use of it so that it will bring honour and glory to all of us in this country,” he said. “Without security we cannot develop. There is nowhere in the world where development takes place in the midst of chaos. There must be peace; there must be stability; there must be security. The president, who commended the Delta State Government for the “unprecedented gesture”, also stressed the need for all Nigerians to imbibe good maintenance culture. He lamented that too many imposing and useful structures have been abandoned to rot and decay soon after they were officially commissioned with fanfare, charging all Nigerians and institutions to turn a new leaf in that regard. Jonathan said: “The Chief of Naval Staff, while presenting his address, did mention the area of maintenance. For us as a nation, that is one aspect people feel we are not doing too well. We can afford to spend a lot of money in building great structures, but to maintain… it has been a problem. Probably we do not have enough trained technicians, or we lack culture to maintain; we always prefer new procurement. “I’m quite happy that one of the main responsibilities of this command is maintenance. We encourage you to do that; we encourage all departments of the armed forces to do that. “For the Delta State Government, we sincerely thank you for this gesture. We appreciate your contribution to peace and security.” The expansive multi-billion naira naval logistics headquarters in Oghara, the administrative headquarters of Ethiope Local Government Area of Delta State, was build entirely by the Delta State Government and donated to the Federal Government Jonathan, who drove into Oghara in a convoy from the Benin Airport at about 10:25 am yesterday (Saturday), had some minutes earlier performed the commissioning ceremony of the ultra-modern Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH) complex also situated in Oghara. He noted that it was noteworthy the Delta State Government had enlisted to execute the naval facility project without asking for reimbursement, which he observed was a common feature of instances of so-called federal projects executed by the states. In his brief remarks, Dr Uduaghan said that he had to ensure the timely completion of the two projects, which were initiated by his predecessor, Chief James Ibori, because of the “administration’s policy of completing all projects begun by past governments. Moreover, the governor said the building of the logistics complex for the Nigerian Navy was in tandem with his government’s programme of Peace and Security under his three-point development agenda. Several governors of states of the Niger-Delta as well as ministers and senior armed forces service chiefs, the police top brass as well as traditional and religious leaders, politicians, women groups and students were on hand to grace the two events. The governors who apparently joined the host, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, to receive the president at the Benin Airport and escorted him to Oghara, include Peter Obi of Anambra Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State, Sylva Timipre of Bayelsa State, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Liyel Imoke of Cross River State; Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State; and, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State. Uduaghan’s Deputy, Prof Amos Utuama (SAN) and numerous civil commissioners also attended the events. The Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN); Minister of the Niger-Delta, Godsay Orubebe; Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Murtala Shehu Yar’Adua; the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral I. I. Ibrahim; The Flag Officer Commanding Logistics Command, Rear Admiral O.F. Oketa, the Commanding Officer of NNS Delta, Henry Bablola, as well as retired senior service chiefs including Vice-Admiral Mike Akhigbe and Major-General David Ejoor also graced the launching of the naval facility. President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; the Delta State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (C.A.N.), Archbishop God-do-well Avwomakpa; the Ogoni-Oghvworode of Olomu Kingdom, HRM Richard Ogbon; the Pere of Ogbe-Ijoh as well as the Chairman, DELSUTH Board, Prof Joseph A.M Otubu and DELSU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Eric Arubayi, and Prof (Mrs.) Angela Okolo of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) who is Chairman, Local Organizing Committee for Nigerian Society of Neonatal Medicine programme. Fears in certain quarters of possible hostile demonstrations in the area during the visit turned out to be mere hoax as the Jonathan, who is the first ever Nigerian head-of-state from the South-South geo-political zone, stepped out of his official Mercedes-Benz car to a frenzied crowd of excited and jubilant reception at the DELSUTH complex. Contrary to certain recent newspaper publications that several thousands of soldiers with numerous armoured cars had been deployed in Oghara and environs, THISDAY observed that security was provided mainly by the police; beside a few armoured personnel carriers stationed at strategic points between Benin-City and Oghara. Most of policemen, who were practically unarmed but civilly dressed in their black uniforms and lined all the roads in Oghara and the Benin-Warri Express Road up to Ologbo in neighrbouring Edo State, apparently assisted by local vigilance groups. The president’s visit to Oghara was remarkably hitch-free and without a single incident reported. Security operatives had little work to do, as the milling thousands of people wxho poured into the streets at Oghara were obviously orderly. Mr. President, all smiles in his Niger-Delta traditional attire of flowery laced waist cloth and brown hat, a.k.a. ‘Resource-control Hat’, had walked briskly to cut the tape and dedicate the teaching hospital “to the use of all Nigerians” at exactly 11:16am. He later came out flanked by Uduaghan, who was adorned in identical attire with the President, and some personages and drove to the palace of the traditional ruler of Oghara Kingdom, HRM, Oreki I, for a close-door meeting before moving to the naval logistics command headquarters. Jonathan, after a series of military ceremonies at the naval base, later proceeded to Asaba for a grand reception organized for him by the Delta State Government. Credit: Thisdayonline.com