..... Nigerian Army Has Deployed 100,000 Peacekeepers in 45 Peace Support Operations Since 1960 - COAS
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has said, the Nigerian Army has so far since Independence deployed over 100,000 peace keepers in over 45 countries for Peace Support Operations in Africa and across the globe for global stability under the auspices of Economic Community of West Africa States( ECOWAS) and United Nations.
The COAS disclosed this today Tuesday 26 July 2022 while declaring open the Maiden Peace Support Operation seminar with the theme of the Seminar, which is 'Nigeria in the Contemporary Peace Support Operations Environment" at Army War College Nigeria, Abuja.
He emphasised that Nigeria's participation in Peace Support Operations dates back to the 1960s with notable achievements and commendations which he said contributed to regional as well as global stability.
"Nigeria Army has contributed over 100,000 peacekeepers in over 40 Peace Support Operations in Africa and across the world, as part of efforts towards facilitating the restoration of peace in conflict zones. Our participation in the operations has become integral to sustaining Nigeria's commitment to global security, with the country attaining the enviable height as the Fifth Largest Troop Contributing Country UN Peace Support Operations in 2013.
"We were subsequently constrained to scale down our participation mainly due to internal exigencies. With our renewed efforts at upscaling our participation again, it is important to have a forum such as this seminar to rub minds and share ideas on issues relating to contemporary Peace Support Operations to keep pace with the ever dynamic nature of the operations", he added.
Lt Gen Yahaya said the Seminar is characteristically another Nigerian Army's noble efforts at deepening collaborations with the Sister Services and other security agencies towards enhancing competencies.
He added that the contemporary operations environment is increasingly complex, ambiguous and volatile and therefore need to be joint and multi-agency in scope so as to harness the combined competencies of all in order to achieve desired end states.
"In accordance with the cardinal pillars of Professionalism and Cooperation which are key to my vision that a seminar of this nature becomes imperative", he said.
General Yahaya said the seminar also serves as Nigerian Army local effort at keeping the participants abreast with current happenings in the field of Peace Support Operations adding that the Nigerian Army remains committed to improving Nigeria's position as a force to reckon with in Peace Support Operations.
He congratulated the organizers of event and charged the participants to interact and brainstorm and come up with ingenious ways and strategies to sustain and deepen Nigerian Army presence in Peace Support Operations.
He reiterated deepest appreciation to the President Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, for his continuous support to the Nigerian Army.
Delivering his keynote address during the event, the former Special Adviser to UN secretary General on peace Support Operations, Lieutenant General CI Obiakor (rtd) said the seminar provided opportunity for interaction among various security Agencies. He added that the seminar is timely and will address grey areas in Peace Support Operations.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chief of Operations, Department of Army Operations, Major General Akintobi thanked COAS for providing necessary logistics and strategic directive for the seminar.
Dignitaries that graced the occasion include Principal Staff Officers of Army headquarters, senior officers both serving and retired among others. There was the unveiling of Peace Support Operations Magazine , presentation of souvenirs and group photograph.
