Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), has called for the reintroduction of modern, technology-driven tollgates on major highways across Nigeria, saying they could serve as a critical tool for tracking criminal activities and enhancing national security.
Speaking at the Abuja Round Table themed “Promise to Proof: The Renewed Hope Conversation,” during a session on protecting lives and livelihoods, Musa said the removal of tollgates across the country was a strategic mistake.
According to him, advances in information and communications technology have made it possible to operate tolling systems without cash transactions while enabling authorities to capture vehicle registration details and monitor movements across interstate routes.
Musa said automated tollgates could provide security agencies with valuable data for tracing suspects and combating crime, adding that technological improvements have addressed many of the operational challenges associated with toll collection in the past.
The Defence Minister also advocated a more robust national identification system, stressing the need for a centralised digital architecture that integrates biometric data, facial recognition and unique identification numbers.
He said such a system would help eliminate identity ambiguity, improve record verification and strengthen intelligence gathering efforts across the country.
On the role of the military in internal security operations, Musa noted that the Armed Forces are constitutionally mandated to defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity but often support civil authorities when security threats exceed the capacity of the police.
He expressed concern about the prolonged deployment of military personnel in various parts of the country, particularly in the North-West, saying years of internal operations have placed significant strain on troops and kept many away from their families.
To address the challenge, he said efforts were ongoing to improve police recruitment, training and operational effectiveness, with the aim of building a stronger civil policing system capable of taking greater responsibility for internal security.
Musa said the long-term objective is to enable the military to gradually return to its primary defence role while improving the country’s overall security posture.
The Defence Minister also emphasised the importance of national unity, arguing that Nigeria’s greatest challenge was not a lack of resources or military capability but divisions among its people.
He urged Nigerians to set aside ethnic, regional and religious differences and work together in the national interest.
Musa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that citizens can farm, travel and conduct business safely across the country under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
