Security: Nigeria restates commitment to support Armed Forces

The Nigerian government has reiterated its commitment to provide the Armed Forces with the needed support to enable them to protect the nation’s territorial integrity and ensure the safety of citizens across the country.

The Nigerian Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar stated this when he paid a visit to the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

He commended the Armed Forces for the successes achieved in fighting insurgency in the country.

According to him, the Armed Forces are doing much to protect the nation without even announcing their achievement.

Abubakar noted that the military has made significant improvements in the oil production plants as he believes that they would continue and the CDS promised that they will push and push harder until the country goes back to its normal production level.

“Protection of the oil pipelines is being done diligently and fantastically well.”

According to the Minister, the Chief of Defence has been able to achieve great success in his leadership because is committed, dedicated and working together as a team.

He added that the Defence Chief and the Service Chiefs as well as the Ministry are working accordingly free to each other towards the development of the force and towards ridding the country of all the security challenges that they face.

“So I thank you for bringing all the team together and making us one family. I also want to thank you for the training of members of the armed forces. This is one major area you focus on and it is surely a result as the level of discipline is increasing daily

“We’ll also want to commend you for boosting the morale of the troops in operation areas. As you conduct regular visits and other inspirational programs to our forward fighting troops. The ministry will continue to support you in that regard,” he added.

The Defence Minister assured the CDS that on the issues raised, the President would never turn him down.

“So I’m sure of all our requirements. The president be it equipment be it improving funding, the accommodation for personnel, training or personnel, special funds for medical and all what you.”

Earlier, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, while appreciating the Ministers for their enthusiasm towards properly managing the Armed Forces for effective service delivery, called for more funding, training and capacity building, and improved welfare to boost the morale of the military.

The CDS who pledged the support of the military to the present administration also appealed to stakeholders in the fourth coming off-season elections to make the elections hitch-free.

He said “Ensuring that the council is properly trained, properly managed in every aspect for them to be able to achieve their mandate of securing the cultural identity of Nigeria and then to give full support.”

The Defence Chief assured that the Armed Forces are fully ready when you’re prepared, you’re committed to the task ahead.

According to him, there are a number of issues I would like to bring up for both the two of them that are standing the sign of the new cabinets, terms and conditions of service. I know you are taking it’s getting your time looking at robots are modernization equipment of the armed forces of Nigeria that I know

“The Armed Forces is doing the best it can but we are limited due but we want to thank you very much. Because in our cases to the president, issues of accommodation for personnel, I think that’s one important thing where a yearly recruiting almost 20,000 personnel both of them are soldiers on yearly basis and it needs to make sure that they are properly accommodated, cannot overemphasize want to take himself also looking at those aspects for personnel to countries outside especially now that we’re facing. We’re dealing with counterterrorism and counterinsurgency, it’s all over the country. The support you’re giving to the HQ in the Office of Special Forces you get to have one bidder and then the training school I want to enhance the capacity of simulation centers to enable training to be continuous. We know the importance of simulation

“It gives us a real view without having to spend so much. Especially across America, what we realize is the morale of our troops. They see how the injured are treated or not treated. Well, do not want to be committed. We’re happy to see how they do. We’re happy that more as we promised more will be done. Then recently we looked at the issue of enablers that we use together to do the armed forces such as cyber warfare, artificial intelligence

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria is fully behind the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Nigeria will continue to defend the Constitution of Nigeria. Nobody, nobody will threaten them.”

Nigerian Army

Meanwhile, the Minister of Defence assured the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja that the Nigerian government will not relent in providing what is needed for the military to enable them to tackle security challenges in the country.

The Defence Minister who stated this when he visited the Army Headquarters Operation Centre and received a briefing on the operations of the Nigerian Army across the theatres said that he had not listened to the challenges and solutions presented, there is a need to tackle such challenges head-on.

Among the challenges listed are shortage of manpower in certain areas, issues of accommodation for the personnel, equipment and combat enablers among other challenges that must be tackled to enable the Nigerian Army and the Armed Forces in general to succeed in the fight against insurgency and other criminalities.

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle in a remark called for support for the Nigerian Army as they sacrifice to keep the nation safe.

He assured them of the support of the Ministry of Defence in the area of provisions that would Strengthen their capacity and Capabilities to combat criminals.

The Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja who earlier briefed the Minister of Defence and the Minister of State for Defence Dr. Bello Matawalle said the interest and inputs of the Minister have positively impacted the operations of the Nigerian.

The ministers accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa were briefed in a closed-door session on the Nigerian Army’s mode of Operation and organisation in the field.