Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has called on Service Chiefs to redouble their efforts in the fight against insurgents.

According to him, although the service chiefs were doing a lot, the anxiety among Nigerians was enough reason for the military commanders to redouble their efforts.

He stated this on Wednesday when he met with the service chiefs and the joint House Committees on ‎Defence, Army, Navy and Air Force at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.

The Speaker noted that Nigerians were on the necks of their representatives in the House over the security situation in the country.

He said, “I thought I should be here to encourage everybody that we’re all on the same page. We all know the situation in Nigeria today, we can’t hide from it; we can’t shy away from it, we cannot pretend that it doesn’t exist.

“We spent practically the whole day on Wednesday (last week) discussing the security situation in Nigeria as expected. Simultaneously, the Senate was doing the same thing without us comparing notes.”

The lawmaker decried that people were dying daily in such a way he said could only be found in countries without security forces.

He stressed, ‎”We must think outside the box; we must take the battle to these criminals whatever they are”‎.

“As I said at the State House the other day, Nigerians are anxious, but I do understand the limitations of the Armed Forces.”

The speaker assured the service chiefs of improved support of the lawmakers, highlighting funding, equipment, and recruitment of personnel as some of the challenges they face.

“It’s major on our legislative agenda and we must address it frontally, squarely,” he said.

Gbajabiamila, however, commended the service chiefs, as well as men and women of the Armed Forces for doing their best and sacrificing their lives for the country.

Those present included Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.