The Federal Government is weighing the return of highway toll gates enhanced with advanced surveillance tech to help tackle kidnapping, banditry, and broad criminal activities across Nigeria’s road networks, according to Minister of Defence Christopher Musa.
Musa made the revelation at an event organized by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and convened by Ismaeel Ahmed, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (PiCNG & EV). The program was themed “Promise to Proof: The Renewed Hope Conversation”.
According to the minister, the proposed toll points would serve double duty as financial collection stations and security checkpoints. Modern tracking systems would allow security tools to read, follow, and record vehicles continuously without requiring drivers to pause for physical cash payments.
In response to concerns regarding highway safety and a proposal that drivers could help fund security efforts through toll fees, Musa backed the idea, admitting that Nigeria may have made an error when it previously removed toll gates. He stressed that any new setup must rely on tech that can read vehicle registration details and handle transactions automatically.
The minister also pushed for a more robust national identity setup featuring personal identification numbers, facial scanning, and fingerprint data to assist security forces in confirming identities and breaking up criminal operations.
Regarding the military’s ongoing deployment for domestic law enforcement, Musa admitted that long-term assignments across the nation have strained the armed forces past their traditional mandate. He noted that the military aims to step back gradually from domestic security operations as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) gains the capacity to fully manage its primary duties. To assist this transition, the armed forces are giving the police operational support, specialized training, and structural aid while the government expands recruitment and buys new hardware.
Musa shared that N5.4 trillion has been earmarked for defense in the 2026 budget, alongside plans to enlist 12,000 new personnel. These funds will cover advanced weaponry, tracking technology, and specialized platforms designed to boost intelligence gathering, operational movement, combat power, and quick response times.
Detailing recent military engagements, the minister reported that security forces neutralized over 300 terrorists and bandits, including more than 10 high-ranking commanders, in operations carried out during the week leading up to his speech. He linked these field successes against terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping to sharper intelligence work, joint military efforts, and closer alignment among various security arms.
However, Musa cited poorly secured borders as a major barrier to resolving national security issues. He pointed out that Nigeria’s vast borders, particularly along the Niger Republic, create opportunities for illegal groups and weapons smugglers to travel across boundaries. Despite Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali leaving the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Nigeria has maintained defense ties with them, focusing on military exercises and joint efforts near border communities.
On local arms production, Musa highlighted that the government has bolstered the nation’s domestic defense capabilities through new laws and joint projects with international hardware makers. He encouraged citizens with skills in cybersecurity, drone technology, and related defense innovations to share their projects for potential partnerships with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
The minister closed by calling on citizens to report any suspicious acts in their neighborhoods to help security teams disrupt criminal networks.
