From Femi Oyelola Kaduna
The Nigeria Armed Forces has over the years, provided the appropriate response to the numerous security challenges facing the country, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.
President Buhari who was speaking at the graduation ceremony of 182 students of Senior Course 40 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, Kaduna State said the Nigeria Armed Forces response to Boko Haram insurgency, militancy, kidnapping, activities of separatists and armed militias amongst others have been very commendable.
He said the tri-service training institutions as well as the single-Service training institutions must continue to be provided with the requisite support to enable them to discharge their obligations.
He, however, assured that the Federal Government will continue to give priority to the training and welfare of officers and men of our Armed Forces.
He said, “Over the years, the Armed Forces of Nigeria have provided the appropriate response to the numerous security challenges facing our country. Their response to Boko Haram insurgency, militancy, kidnapping, activities of separatists and armed militias amongst others have been very commendable.
“The Nigerian Armed Forces has also committed huge resources towards stability of the West African sub-region and world peace in general.
Our efforts in Liberia and Sierra Leone which stabilized the West African sub-region readily come to mind. More recently, our Armed Forces have also contributed to the peace in The Gambia, Mali and South Sudan.”
He emphasized that a force committed to the maintenance of local, national, regional and world peace needs to be adequately prepared to confront security challenges as they emerge.
Buhari who pointed out that the reality underscores the critical place of capacity building in the armed forces and the roles of training institutions added, “A lot is expected of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji being the institution that trains middle level officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces.”
“The numerous security challenges facing the world today are trans-border in nature, involving actors in different sub-regions and regions. The West African sub-region and indeed the African continent are not immune to the negative impacts of globalization. To effectively combat the prevalent security threats demands that African countries continue to work together at all levels including operational and tactical levels.
“I am sure you are aware of the collaboration of the armed forces of Nigeria, Cameroun, Niger Republic and Chad in a multinational operation to combat Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin region. The synergy of the forces in operating together must have boosted an understanding of the doctrines of the cooperating forces which in turn would have been made possible through joint training and exercises.
“May I assure you of this Administration’s effort to return our country on the path of peace and prosperity. At the inception of this administration, I made 3 key promises to Nigerians. First is to address the various security challenges facing our country, second, to reposition our economy and third to fight the serious challenge of corruption which had eaten so deep into the very fabric that sustain our nation.
“On the issue of security, we recognise that security challenges abound in all countries of the world including Nigeria. I am certain, with the consistent efforts of our security agencies, these challenges shall be considerably mitigated and minimised.
He called on the graduating officers to realize that the nation has made a lot of investment into their training and likewise, the nation is expecting the best from them in terms of commitment to their duties and fatherland.
