By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru
ABUJA — THE House of Representatives, yesterday, told the Service Chiefs to do all within their power to stop the menace of Boko Haram, activities of pirates as well as oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

Chairman of the House adhoc Committee for the screening of the Service Chiefs, Rep. Garba Datti who gave the advice when the Service Chiefs appeared for screening, told them to give priority to the protection of Nigeria’s territorial boundaries with neighbouring countries of Benin, Cameroon and Niger Republic.

THE NEW SERVICE CHIEFS, NSA

Rep. Datti in an address, said the rampant activities of militants in the Niger Delta, and cases of smuggling and piracy on the nation’s water ways required constant policing to curtail the menace.

He said the welfare of military personnel engaged in the fight against Boko Haram must be made a priority.

According to him: “I am convinced you are all very familiar with the responsibility and challenges bothering on low morale of our servicemen and women, welfare, training, procurement process of military hardware and ordinance, particularly for those of them on the frontline states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe in the North East region fighting the insurgency and the general living conditions of Armed Forces personnel and the families in the various barracks in the country.”

The House Adhoc Screening Committee later went into a close-door executive session.

The service chiefs – Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin (Chief of Defence Staff ); Tukur Yusufu Buratai (Chief of Army Staff); Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Chief of Naval Staff) and Sadique Baba Abubakar (Chief of Air Staff)—were appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 13.