Africa Military Games: Wike hails military as 40 countries storm Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike has commended the Nigerian military for making Abuja and Nigeria as a whole safe.

The Minister gave the commendation on Wednesday when the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, in the company of top military brass paid him a courtesy call and informed him that about 40 African countries are set to storm Abuja and participate in the Africa Military Games.

Wike said the military has worked well and hard to keep the FCT and Nigeria as a whole safe. That when issues occur it’s publicised, but when things go well from the hard work of security operatives it does not get publicised.

He said; “In terms of security in Abuja, they’ve done quite well. We would not have arrived here without their hard work. All over the world, you still have some pockets of your security challenges everywhere. You are doing very well.

“Insecurity has come down in Abuja. Even the insurgency has also reduced. And so, the Nigerians should commend you people. It is not easy. It’s not only when something happens, you forget all the ones that you have been doing. But for us, we know that you’ve done very well.”

Wike said the FCT Administration was ready to give full support to the military for a successful hosting of the games

He said, “We want to assure you that we will fully participate and give you all the necessary support so that it will be a successful event. We have no choice but to give you the necessary support because it is our city that is going to host this international game.”

Wike also said the visit of participants from 40 African countries would change the narrative as they would go back to their countries with changed impression of Nigeria being a dangerous and insecure country.

“It (the game) will also show that Nigeria is safe, Abuja is safe, let them come and see Abuja city. Sometimes people have the impression from outside without even having a first hand information. So I believe that when they come here, they will go back home with a different narrative.

“Thank you for the opportunity to showcase Nigeria, to showcase the Federal Capital Authority. This Africa military Games that is coming up in November in Abuja will also showcase the city called Abuja, where over 40 countries will be participating. It is a welcome development,” he added.

Wike charged the visiting military brass to state whatever they wanted in assistance.

He then nominated three FCTA officials in the person of the Chief of Staff to the Minister, the SSA Administration and the Director of Security to work with them for one week to come out with specifics.

Earlier, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Gen. Christopher Musa told the FCT Minister that they commend him for bringing back life to Abuja in a very short time and that things have turned around for good in a very short time.

“We are not surprised because we know that doing work is what you like doing, constructions and putting things in place. So we appreciate you sir and just to also inform you that the Armed Forces is here to support you in whatever way for us to ensure that FCT continues to grow without any threat within or outside of the FCT.

“The most important aspect of our visit is the All Africa Military Games that is coming up in November. Nigeria is the second country that is hosting such a grand event.

“It is to showcase Nigeria in great light to the world, not only in Africa but to the entire world that Abuja is safe, Nigeria is safe. Most people when you travel out, the impression they give of Nigeria is that Nigeria is very hostile. That it’s a hostile environment. That when you come in there’s a lot of killings and all that, but you notice that Nigeria is more secure than most of these countries that talk about us.

“Here the press enjoys so much freedom so everything is being reported and that’s why people think that it is unsafe. But we all know that Nigeria is safe, Abuja is one of the safest places that anybody will ever live.

“We’re expecting over 40 countries so far that are coming with their own forces to come here for a period of one week.

“It is part of the renewed agenda of Mr President, projecting Nigeria to the world and the military is showing that direction. We want it to be a very successful event, the standard of the recent Olympics that was finished in Paris,” CDS Musa stated.

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