October 06, (THE WILL) – President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, in Kaduna, charged the military to replicate the successes recorded against insurgency in the North East in other parts of the country
Speaking on Thursday, in Afaka, Kaduna State, at the passing-out parade and commissioning ceremony of cadets of Regular Course 69 of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), the President said he inherited a country at crossroads with bombs detonating in cities across Nigeria when he assumed office in May 2015.
However, he acknowledged that the security challenges in the country have evolved and assumed other dimensions in some areas, noting that his government has been deploying both military and non-military methods including amnesty for repentant terrorists to arrest the situation.
President Buhari insisted that his government has been able to manage Nigeria’s security crisis in the last seven years.
He said, “When this Government came in 2015, we inherited a country at crossroads, with bombs going off with frightening frequency even in our cities, and we came in to confront and manage the crisis.”
President Buhari noted that the administration under his leadership has since coming on board procured over 550 naval platforms, out of which 319 have been delivered, as part of the aggressive fleet recapitalisation of the Nigerian Navy.
He described the systematic acquisitions of sundry platforms and hardware within 7 years of his administration, as unprecedented in the past 38 years of the Nigerian military.
“We have also increased the number of Nigerian Air Force platforms by more than 38% and enhanced the serviceability rate of aircraft in the NAF inventory by over 70%.
“In pursuing this same objective, the Nigerian Army has received more than 2000 units of various Armoured Fighting Vehicles, guns, and equipment. These are in addition to improved funding of the three Services along with other security and intelligence agencies.
“These comprehensive and systematic acquisitions within 7 years are not only unprecedented in the past 38 years, but they also align with our pledge to safeguard and strengthen the security architecture of our country.
“Although this is not a forum to introduce you to the military hardware you are stepping out to inherit, it is imperative to identify the magnitude and complexities of conflicts surrounding us.
“While acknowledging that our measures have yielded results and we remain ever grateful for the sacrifices of members of the Armed Forces, we must brace up for the dimensions this conflict has taken”, he said.
Commending the military for Wednesday’s safe release of the remaining 23 victims of the March 28 Abuja-Kaduna train attack, the President applauded the kinetic and non-kinetic approaches adopted by the military in tackling some of the country’s security challenges.
He said, “Let me also commend our military for both kinetic and non-kinetic methods they adopt in tackling some of our security challenges.
“Just yesterday (Wednesday), relief came for our country as the remaining 23 victims of the March 28 Abuja-Kaduna train attack were released by the heinous terrorists.
“This feat was not achieved without our military, as the interventionist Chief of Defence Staff Action Committee set up by General LEO Irabor was at the centre of the development, along with sister security agencies. I say Bravo to our soldiers, officers and gentlemen.”
Restating the commitment of the Armed Forces, under his command, to fulfil the promise to neutralise Boko Haram terrorism in the North East, the President pledged that they would not relent in resettling and rehabilitating the victims of the tragedy.
He appealed to Nigerians that although successes have been recorded in the conflict inherited, especially in the Northeast, the security challenges in the country have evolved and assumed other dimensions in some areas.
“We have devised both military and non-military methods to intervene, and even rolled out an amnesty programme to rehabilitate repentant terrorists who surrendered and laid down their arms unconditionally.
“Our tasks as the guardians of the nation are to prepare for the evolving and complex security situations and make sure that no terrorists can threaten Nigeria’s sovereign integrity.
“In this regard, I have instructed the Service Chiefs to replicate the successes in the North East in other parts of the country, and I call on all Nigerians to continue to support our Armed Forces and security agencies.”
A total of 239 cadets including those from sister African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Niger Republic, Chad, and Uganda, were part of junior military officers, passing out from the Academy.
The President charged the cadets to replicate the spirit of social cohesion they learned at the NDA and be incorruptible models to society, noting that they emerged in the era of expanding global security threats.
President Buhari also acknowledged the honour to serve as the Reviewing Officer for the last time as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Among the dignitaries present at the NDA parade include all the service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali; Senate President Ahmed Lawan; the governors of Niger and Kaduna states, as well as National Assembly members.
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