Kaduna: Lawmaker asks Gov Sani to probe billions spent on drones by El-Rufai’s govt

Henry Marah Zachariah, the member representing Jaba constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly, has asked to 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 in the state.

Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday in Kaduna, Zachariah said technology is the only tool that could be used to defeat insecurity in Nigeria.

According to him, “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?”

He noted that despite the current high level of insecurity in the state, there is no substantive commissioner for internal security to effectively handle security matters.

“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 lamented that members of the opposition party in the House of Assembly were not given opportunity to speak on important issues affecting the state during plenary sessions.

“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,” the lawmaker added.