TELL Magazine

We Are Committed To Securing Nigeria – Army

Lieutenant General T Y Buratai, Chief of Army Staff, Nigerian Army has reiterated the resolve of the army to put a total end to the Boko Haram challenges and ulti‎mately to do more ensuring that the citizens of the country are adequately protected. Buratai who was represented by  Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar said this at a one-day workshop on national security organized by Nigerian Army School of Public Relations And Information, NASPRI, held on Wednesday in Lagos. While delivering the lead lecture, Counter Terrorism and Sustenance of National Security in Nigeria: Successes and Lessons by Nigerian Army, Burutai said the Army has so far done well in crushing the insurgency. He highlighted some of the strategies employed by the military to include motor bike battalion, communication, CRS, the establishment of radio stations in the north east, media tours, establishment of shooting range squadron among others, especially consistent change of tactics in the newly introduced Operation Lafiya Dole. “I believe the military has achieved a lot and we are doing more to protect Nigerian people as well as to protect and sustain our sovereignty.”,Abubakar said.

‎In his welcome address, on the theme of the workshop,Dynamics of National Security Role of the Citizens, commandant, Brig Gecommandant, Agim, said the workshop is part of efforts aimed at engendering public participation on national security discourse.” It was borne out the fact that security shouldn’t be left in the hands of security agencies alone, hence the need for this constructive engagement with relevant stakeholders”, he said. Agim addes that globally, the role of the citizenry in national security cannot be overemphasized. “Globally, the dynamics in the. Security architecture has presented a number of challenges that calls for a more realistic and holistic approach”,  he said. Idowu Sobowale, emeritus professor, University of Lagos, Major General A.T Umaru and professor Ogada Oche presented lectures on The Role of Media in National Security, Nigeria National Security: The Need for Synergy between the Citizens and the State and The Imperative of National Security in the 21st Century: Issues and Challenges respectively. The event was attended by members of security agencies like Nigerian Custons, the Police, Civil Defence, FRSC, LASTMA among others.