2023: You Must Remain Apolitical, Buhari Warns Military

President Muhammadu Buhari has charged the military and other security agencies to remain apolitical in their involvement in the provision of security during the nation’s 2023 general elections.
He gave the charge at the commissioning of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) newly acquired Estate in Idu-Karmo,  Abuja,  Wednesday.
The President urged the agencies to handle the distribution and monitoring of classified materials and other logistics “professionally and in accordance with Standing Operation Procedures”.
Reiterating his earlier directive to security agencies to remain apolitical, Buhari said they must desist from behaviours that could bring disrepute to their organisations and the country and avoid compromising the democratic process.
On the newly acquired DIA Estate, the President stated that the befitting accommodation would enhance productivity and coordination of activities of staff of the agency, in view of increasing number of personnel to face new challenges and responsibilities.
He said: “The significance of today’s occasion can be better understood by making the connection between shelter and productivity. This underpins the administration’s vision for provision of shelter to improve performance as well as comfort for workers, families and communities.
“This commissioning ceremony further avails another opportunity to reaffirm my confidence in the competence, commitment and achievements of the Defence Intelligence Agency’s giant strides achieved across the nation.
“I am confident that this new premises will yield enormous shelter dividends to the Defence Intelligence Agency staff, their families and the host locality.
“The acquisition of this accommodation is a great leap forward, but the envisaged benefits would be aborted without diligent maintenance.”
President Buhari, who charged the new occupants to ensure the sustenance of the high standard of the facility, also acknowledged the efforts of the agency towards meeting his administration’s housing policy of provision of housing to all Nigerians.
“The agency’s investment in staff accommodation complements our vision of achieving improved national security,” he said.