News
Insecurity Poses Challenges To April Polls – Army Chief
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Onyeabo Ihejirika, on Monday decried the spate of insecurity in the country, saying that it poses great challenges to the April general elections.
Ihejirika said during the commanding officers’ workshop in Jos that the current dimensions of the problem called for the involvement of the military.
“You are all aware of the challenges posed by ethno-religious upheavals, terrorism, armed banditry, kidnapping and other forms of insecurity in our nation today.
“The dimension of these challenges is such that our involvement in internal security duties is paramount. This trend is likely to prevail as we approach the April 2011 general elections,” he said.
Ihejirika said that President Goodluck Jonathan was very pleased with the performance of the military, and challenged the men not only to maintain but improve upon their performances.
He urged the military to be “proactive and be highly professional in every sense,” as they were being deployed to discharge their duties in line with the operational directives and orders”.
“Let me note that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. In this wise, the Army shall continue to remain the symbol of unity in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities. “I, therefore, urge you to remain apolitical and duly committed to the sustenance of democracy at all times,” the Army chief said.
He challenged the officers and men to earn the support and admiration of the civil populace through professional conduct.
“The military must be courteous to the civil populace at all times because the benefit cannot be over-emphasised. If you are hostile to them, they will not give you vital information. The Army leadership hierarchy will not accept any act of mediocrity. There is no room for failure in any assigned tasks,” he warned.
Ihejirika said that all logistics required to enhance operational success would be provided but tasked them to show mastery of their profession.
He said that the workshop was an avenue for all commanding officers to interact and share peculiar and practical experiences with a view to raising their performances and standards.
Earlier, the GOC, 3 Armoured Division, Maj.-Gen. Sunday Idoko, said the workshop was aimed at achieving Ihejirika’s vision of transforming the “Army into a force better and able to meet contemporary challenges”.
The workshop drew participants from all the military formations in Northern Nigeria, including GOC 1 Mechanised Division, Kaduna, Maj.-Gen. Joseph Shoboiki, Director, Directorate of Military Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. Sani Audu, and heads of security agencies in Plateau State.
The week-long workshop has as its theme: “Repositioning the Commanding Officers to meet Contemporary Challenges”.
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The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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