Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and Chief of Army Staff, Major Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, have assured Nigerians that under their watch, the military would be transformed into a well-trained, equipped, and highly motivated force.

They affirmed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria will defend the country’s territorial integrity and democracy and safeguard internal security and unity, thus guaranteeing sustainable national development.

The duo spoke, yesterday, when they appeared before the House of Representatives’ ad-hoc committee on screening of service chiefs, led by Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere.

Musa said the Armed Forces will put Nigerians at the centre of its actions, with a view to promoting and safeguarding a secure environment for all.

He said: “Service men and women of the Armed Forces should be reassured of my commitment to their welfare, provision of relevant operational equipment as well as infrastructural development within available resources, to enable them to succeed in assigned constitutional roles.

“I shall also promote international military cooperation/collaboration to further expose and provide capacity building to personnel in joint and combined operations outside the shores of Nigeria. This measure is required to consolidate welfare priorities to effectively deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt and sustained land, sea and air dominance across traditional as well as asymmetric conflict settings as part of a joint force.”

Lagbaja said: “I consider my nomination as a call to higher responsibilities and I am determined not to betray the trust and confidence reposed in me. It is an open secret that our country has faced a challenging security environment in the past two decades. It has impacted adversely on our socio-economic and political lives.

“The episodic crises of the past have now become enduring, thereby making governance and the rule of law more challenging for successive administrations.”

He added: “For this reason, I conceptualise my philosophy of command as transforming the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped and highly motivated force towards achieving constitutional responsibilities within a joint environment. I intend to partner with the National Assembly and other stakeholders in achieving this command philosophy.” (The Guardian)

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