The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, has charged the nation’s defence Advisers and Attaches to key into the present administration’s change agenda and the realities of Nigeria’s security challenges.

Olonisakin gave the charge in Abuja on Friday at the closing of the 2015 Defence Advisers/Attaches Conference.

He said critical stakeholders in the defence intelligence community must strive to align their expertise and experiences with the programmes and policies of the Federal Government.

Olonisakin said that stakeholders and particularly defence practitioners, must brainstorm on contemporary issues and challenges of national security.

He said that the theme of the conference reflected conventional wisdom in this period of change to optimise one of the critical factors of our security as a nation.

“However, this conference provides me the opportunity to charge the defence intelligence community to shift the fundamental paradigm of its engagement in line with the change agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“I charge you to always apply yourself to your working environment and deliberately identify and project the comparative advantages therein for the progress of Nigeria, therefore, you must strive to be an agent of progressive change for Nigeria.”

He urged them to apply knowledge gained at the conference to their professional and personal development as well as in their respective working environment.

The defence chief said the conference would also help to shape the operational procedures and methodologies of the defence intelligence community.

He said the Federal Government through the Defence Headquarters would support the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) to optimise its strength in national defence intelligence.

“The conference also considered the operational conditions of our various defence sections and took particular notes of the operational and administrative constraints you face.

“The discharge of these strategic duties requires a defence intelligence community that is undoubtedly imbued with impeccable professionalism.

“I wish to use this occasion to restate my commitment and that of the Defence Headquarters to work closely with the DIA in providing an enabling environment for you to excel in your duties.”

Earlier, the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), AVM Monday Morgan, expressed confidence that the challenge of insurgency and other violent crimes affecting some communities in the country would be surmounted.

Morgan said Nigeria was on course in its fight against insurgency as the intelligence community was better positioned to support combat operations in parts of the country.

He said the conference was a huge success as participants were better equipped to deal with the increasing demand on them.

Nigeria’s defence advisers/attaches from across the world attended the conference. (NAN)

•Photo shows Gen. Olonisakin.

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