By Olayemi Esan
Nigerian Army modest successes against the terrorists in the Northeast are being recognized and applauded in the global index.
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya disclosed this on Tuesday during the opening of Opening Ceremony Of Chief Of Army Staff First Quarter Conference Held at Army Headquarters Command Mess 1 Asokoro Abuja.
General Yahaya stressed that the increased deployments of Nigerian Army troops in various theatres of operations across the country as well as creation of new units and forward operating bases have provided the much-needed impetus in military operations with several successes recorded.
"Our untiring efforts and gains against armed bandits and other violent criminals in the Northwest and North Central, Secessionists in the South East and other criminals in other geo-political zones are also gaining success. This was achieved through increased synergy with our sister Services, other security agencies and stakeholders.
"Furthermore, training activities such as Ex Restore Hope and Ex Projects Stinger in conjunction with foreign partners are yielding the desired results and would be accordingly sustained. With the gradual waning of the impacts of Covid-19 on the global front, more collaboration will be sought with foreign partners in various spheres", he said.
General Yahaya pledged Nigerian Army partnership to continue to work assiduously with the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force as well as other security agencies and relevant stakeholders towards ensuring enduring peace in our dear nation in line with his vision to promote jointness in operation.
In the bid to consolidate on the successes attained so far, deliberate efforts would be made throughout this conference to appraise our ongoing activities.
"Discussions at the conference would be focused on achieving the overall objective of better positioning the Nigerian Army to decisively confront the prevailing security challenges in the country.
"Such timely evaluation is critical in galvanizing our collective strength and eliminating our weaknesses. I am therefore quite optimistic that the briefs and presentations lined up for the Conference will generate robust deliberations as well as strategies to spur the Nigerian Army to greater heights in this year and beyond he said.
Giving updates of the achievements of the Nigerian Army within the year, General Yahaya noted that number of infrastructural development projects, restructuring, as well as optimized logistical support amongst others have taken place,
The procurement and deployment of several platforms, particularly Armoured Fighting Vehicles and Artillery pieces into the theatres of operations have immensely enhanced our performance. The professional employment of these hardwares coupled with astute leadership provided by field commanders have led to the successes recorded so far.
The Nigerian Army has also intensified its civil military relation efforts and imbibed the best global practices in the conduct of various operations in line with the principles of the Laws of Armed Conflict as well as promotion and respect for fundamental human rights.
Earlier, Welcoming participants, The Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP) Army, Major General Anthony Bamidele Omozoje, emphasied that there have been progress in Nigerian Army operations in warfronts and increase in the political landscape of Nigeria as we draw close to the 2023 general elections.
"All these happens are necessitated in the meeting of this nature for us to review our operations and other activities which has give room to increase our performance as we continue to strive to actualize the Chief of Army Staff Vision for the Nigerian Army.
"In line with the directive of the Army Staff we have increased the attendance of this conference by involving the Commandants of key Nigerian Army stones and other heads of establishments" he added.
General Omozoje therefore urged all participants to make valuable contributions that will impact positively on Nigerian Army collective efforts to improve national security, adding that, the briefs and presentation to be delivered in this conference will be focused on key areas requiring leverage appraisal.