INSECURITY: ARMY MUST BE ADAPTIVE, INGENIOUS, INNOVATIVE

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Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, has instructed field commanders and soldiers to be adaptive and embrace innovation in order to ensure that the adversaries of the country are brought to knee.

This came as he urged the commanders to be creative, stating that the country was going through a more turbulent and complex time than it had previously.

He also implored them to restore peace and stability in areas experiencing security challenges across the nation.

Nigeria is currently facing security challenges, such as banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping among others. These challenges have resulted in the deaths and abductions of many citizens.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the Chief of Army Staff Conference on Monday, Lagbaja said the troops and commanders must remain committed to their constitutional mandates.

He said, “It is imperative to reiterate that our primary focus remains the preservation of our nation’s territorial integrity, safeguarding the lives and properties of loyal citizens, and upholding the principles of justice and equity.

“As leaders of our Army, we must create that awareness across the force that the season we are in is more volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous than before. We must, therefore, continue to be adaptive, ingenious, innovative, and ready to take up more non-traditional military responsibilities if we must help our dear country survive the time we are in.”

“I charge field commanders across various theatres of operations, including our gallant troops, to remain committed to bringing the nation’s adversaries to their knees and restoring sanity in troubled areas across the country.”

Lagbaja urged the troops and commanders to enhance their intelligence gathering and respect human rights while going about their duties.

He said, “We must continue to strengthen our operational capabilities, enhance intelligence gathering, foster inter-agency cooperation and prioritise the welfare of our personnel. Our commitment to professionalism, discipline, and respect for human rights must remain firm and obvious to all.”

Lagbaja said the troops, apart from securing the country, had been contributing to global peace.

He said, “Only recently, with the approval of Mr President and Commander-in-Chief, the second company of the Nigerian contingent in the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei was inducted on April 5, 2024.

“This effort is geared towards upholding our commitment to maintaining global peace and security, particularly within the African Continent. Similarly, the Nigerian Army has extended its support to peacekeeping missions in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau by deploying troops and allocating resources.

“This deployment underscores our steadfast commitment to providing capable peacekeepers as part of our contributions to global peace and security.”

The Army Chief also said he has directed the Managing Director of Post-Service Housing Development Limited to set aside five per cent of the Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers Scheme in each estate for allocation to these wounded and disabled soldiers.

He noted that the programme aimed at alleviating the hardship soldiers face in securing personal accommodation for post-service life.

Lagbaja said the Nigerian Army will cover all the housing expenses at 100 per cent for the soldiers.

He said, “As a way of making the scheme inclusive and showing our sensitivity to the plight of soldiers with operational-related disabilities, I have directed the Managing Director of Post-Service Housing Development Limited to set aside five per cent of the AHOOAS Scheme in each estate for allocation to this category of soldiers.

“Additionally, the Nigerian Army will cover all the housing expenses at 100 per cent for the soldiers,” the army chief said.

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