A member representing Jaba constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Henry Marah Zachariah, has asked the state government to audit the billions of naira spent on surveillance equipment launched by former governor Nasir el-Rufai to detect terror attacks and other crimes.
Zachariah who made the call yesterday when he addressed newsmen at the state House of Assembly complex, said technology is the only tool that can be used to defeat insecurity in Nigeria.
He said, “The rising insecurity in the state is not what one can use manpower to fight, what is needed now is technology.
“The last administration of Nasir el-Rufai told us on air that they voted billions in purchasing air surveillance equipment/drones. Where are these drones?
“In this insecurity situation, we don’t even have a substantive commissioner for internal security, the office is still vacant and somebody is overseeing it.
“As far as we are concerned, they should show us where those air surveillance equipment are. We have the right to ask questions because it is the money of the people of Kaduna State that was used to buy the equipment, they should show us where those drones are and why they are not working? he said.
He also disclosed that members from the opposition party in the state Assembly were not given opportunity to talk during plenary sessions.
Zechariah said, “We feel that we are not being given the opportunity to contribute our quota to national growth or development in the state, probably the reason why we are not being allowed to express our opinions is because they feel that we may say things that the executive don’t want to hear. But the truth is that we are not here to say what the government wants to hear, we are here to say the reality on ground and proffer solutions to them.
“We must be allowed to speak as lawmakers, we are not here to please anybody or to massage anybody’s ego, we are here to serve the interest of our people,” he said.
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