Security
Lots of success recorded against Boko Haram, bandits — COAS
The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya, on Friday told the House of Representatives that the Nigerian Army has recorded lots of success against Boko Haram terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals across the country.
He however noted that “a lot more still needs to be done”.
Yahaya who spoke while appearing before the Reps Committee on Army to defend the 2022 budget estimates of the force appealed for early releases of finance to enable them to procure essential equipment and prosecute the war.
“This is my first time of officially defending the Nigerian Army budget before this honourable committee. The last two years have been indeed challenging due to Coronavirus, which affected the global socioeconomic activities including that of our dear nation, Nigeria.
“The attendant negative consequences hindered our economy and seems to allow insecurity to fester as observed in the north-central, north-west, south-east and south-west. The situation compelled the National Assembly to consider supplementary budget 2021 to stem the tide.
“The supplementary budget had been partly funded and some critical hardware have been ordered and are being expected soonest in the country.
“It is in this light that I want to acknowledge the massive support of Mr President, Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the federal republic of Nigeria and this honourable committee in providing the needed resources for both operational and administrative activities of the Nigerian Army.
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“The NA’s role as enshrined in the constitution is to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria from violations of all sorts.
“Lately, the Nigerian Army has been involved more in internal security operations across the six geopolitical zones of the country, though with varying intensities.
“In this regard, a lot of success has been recorded against the Boko Haram terrorists, the bandits and the kidnappers and other criminals across the country. But a lot more still needs to be done.
“When I took over the leadership of the Nigerian Army in May, 2021, I crafted my vision which is to have a professional NA ready to accomplish mission in a joint environment in defence of Nigeria.
“My vision was built on four command pillars. Which are professionalism, readiness, administration and cooperation, all of which are geared towards ensuring a discipline and professional Nigerian Army. To achieve this, however, welfare of personnel which include relevant training, good administrative support, provision of needed weapons and platforms among others are all essential success factors.
“Suffice to note that adequate funding would help Nigerian Army to invest in needed technology and platforms to effectively discharge its constitutional roles.
“Nigerian Army, at present must, by the necessity of the changing nature of the battlespace, develop novel processes, strategies and tactics to overwhelm the enemy in kinetic and non-kinetic battles, win hearts and minds and safeguard our nation’s territorial integrity, prestige and honour.
“This require deliberate investment in leadership capacity building, plans strategic procurement of necessary equipment infrastructure, personnel welfare, battle resilience and combat efficiency.
“As we are aware the theatre of operation has expanded beyond the north east to other geopolitical zones in the country. Therefore manpower requirements of the NA has been increasing to accommodate this attendant needs.
“To bridge the gaps being exploited by bandits and other criminal elements, this therefore calls for a review of the subsisting envelope budget system, which over the years have been a major challenge in adequately funding the army for its constitutional duties. It is my hope that this Honourable committee would passionately look into this with a view to correcting the anomaly”.
