The Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor has stated that the Defence Joint Operations Centre ( JOC) is particularly important for security strategies and serves as coordinating body which also liaises with other security agencies in the country
General Irabor said this today 8 March 2023, when the Participants of Course 7, 2023 of Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) today 7 March 2023 visited the Defence Headquarters ( DHQ) with an objective to understudy the functions and organisation of the Defence Joint Operations Centre ( JOC).
The CDS who was represented by the Acting Director Defence Intelligence and Security, Brigadier General ME Onoja said, the visit will avail the participants an opportunity to understand the roles of DHQ and other organizations on the security architecture of the nation.
He revealed that the JOC has witnessed stronger evolution since. 2012 , adding that it was established in 2008, being the war room for planning and decision making for the AFN. "The JOC is also used for intelligence operations which helps to facilitate the CDS decision making", he said.
SpyeTV reports that a total of 74 participants comprising 6 foreign allied African nations members, one Nigerian Navy officer and one Nigerian Air force officer, all of the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and its equivalents were led to the visit by the Commandant of AWCN, Major General BA Alabi.
In the meantime, the Chief of Defence Staff ( CDS), General Lucky Irabor had on 7 March 2023 played host to the participants of Course 10 of the United Arab Emirate (UAE) Defence College.
The leader of the participants, Brigadier General Mahdi Al -Ahbabi stated that the visit was informed by the need to share ideas with Nigerian Defence Headquarters on issue of national security.
He noted that the UAE Defence College shares a similarity with Nigerian National Defence College (NDC), but however pointed out that the 2 colleges differ in the constituents of participants.
He explained that the UAE Defence College has 70 per cent civilian participants and 30 per cent military officers participants , unlike what is obtainable in Nigerian NDC.
The CDS represented by the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans (CDPP), Air Vice Marshal Jackson Yusuf, while welcoming the participants to DHQ noted that the visit was timely as it coincided with Nigerian election period.
He expressed hope that the participants could draw much lessons from the electoral period, especially as it affects harnessing national security architecture for safe , free and fair election.