The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has commissioned the remodeled Quarter Guard and unveiled the newly constructed Gatekeepers Statue at Headquarters Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps (NAIC), Asokoro, Abuja.
A statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu said the COAS while addressing the officers and soldiers of the Corps shortly after the commissioning ceremony, expressed gratitude for their invaluable service to the Nigerian Army (NA) and the nation at large.
The COAS highlighted the Corps’ pivotal role in the fight against insurgency and other criminal activities through their adept intelligence gathering. He reiterated his command philosophy and urged officers and men of the Corps to continue to work hard towards its actualisation.
General Lagbaja applauded the personnel of the Corps as they go to great lengths to carry out their role, charging them to redouble their efforts.
While emphasising the crucial role played by the Corps in the broader framework of national security and intelligence operations, the Army Chief noted that the role of intelligence in combating various threats facing the nation which must receive paramount attention. He assured the Corps of his continued support to sustain its role in the NA.
General Lagbaja stressed the importance of empowering the Corps with the requisite equipment, training, and technology to enhance their effectiveness in gathering, analyzing, and disseminating requisite intelligence.
He stated further that by providing the NAIC with robust support to enable intelligence-driven operations, the NA will effectively surmount security challenges bedeviling the country.
General Lagbaja avered that a well-equipped and proficient Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps is essential for maintaining a safer and more secure Nigeria. He therefore called for seamless coordination and collaboration between the NAIC and other NA Corps, Sister Services, the intelligence community, law enforcement agencies, and other relevant government bodies to address evolving security threats comprehensively.
The Chief of Military Intelligence (Army) Major General Thompson Ugiagbe disclosed that the Headquarters NAIC office complex has not received any renovation for quite several years, thus, prompting the remodeling initiative.
He added that the Gatekeepers Statue is a common feature of Intelligence Services worldwide and symbolises the Corps’ commitment to honoring the past, inspiring the present, and securing the future through vigilant and dedicated intelligence efforts.
Dominica Nwabufo
