FG may reintroduce tollgates with surveillance technology to curb highway crimes — Defence Minister
Christopher Musa, minister of defence, says the federal government is considering reintroducing toll gates equipped with modern surveillance technology to curb kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities on Nigeria’s highways.
Musa spoke at an event organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and convened by Ismaeel Ahmed, executive chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of the presidential initiative on compressed natural gas and electric vehicles (PiCNG & EV).
The event was titled “Promise to proof: The renewed hope conversation”.
He said the proposed tollgates would serve not only as revenue collection points but also as security checkpoints where technology could identify, monitor and track vehicles without requiring motorists to stop for manual payments.
Responding to concerns about insecurity on major highways and a suggestion that motorists could contribute to security funding through tollgate levies, Musa supported the proposal, saying Nigeria might have made a mistake by dismantling tollgates.
He said the system must be backed by technology capable of identifying vehicles through their registration numbers and processing payments electronically.
The minister also advocated a stronger national identification system incorporating personal identification numbers, facial recognition and fingerprint technology to help security agencies establish identities and track criminal networks.
On the military’s involvement in internal security operations, Musa acknowledged that prolonged deployments across the country had stretched the armed forces beyond their traditional responsibilities.
He said the military was working towards a gradual withdrawal from internal security operations by strengthening the capacity of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to take over responsibilities within its mandate.
According to him, the military was supporting the police through training, operational assistance and other capacity-building interventions, while the government pursued additional recruitment and equipment procurement.
Musa said N5.4 trillion was allocated to defence in the 2026 budget, alongside plans to recruit an additional 12,000 personnel.
He said the funding would cover modern weapons, surveillance systems and operational platforms to improve intelligence gathering, mobility, firepower and rapid response.
Giving an account of recent military operations, the minister said security forces had killed more than 300 terrorists and bandits, including over 10 commanders, in operations conducted in the week preceding his presentation.
He attributed the progress against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping to improved intelligence gathering, joint military operations and stronger cooperation among security agencies.
Musa, however, identified porous borders as a major obstacle to tackling insecurity, noting that Nigeria’s extensive borders, particularly with the Niger Republic, provided opportunities for criminal groups and arms traffickers to move across the region.
He said Nigeria had maintained security relationships with Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali despite their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), particularly in military training and cooperation around border communities.
On local defence manufacturing, Musa said the government has strengthened the country’s defence industry through legislative reforms and partnerships with equipment manufacturers.
He urged Nigerians with expertise in cybersecurity, drone manufacturing and other defence technologies to present their innovations for possible collaboration with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
The minister also urged citizens to report suspicious activities in their communities to support security agencies in tackling criminal operations.
