Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), has instructed officers and troops of the Nigerian army to maintain their devotion to prayer as they carry out their primary duty of defending the territorial integrity of the country.
In addition to assuring Nigerians that their country is safe and secure for everyone to conduct their lawful business, Lagbaja stated that prayers continue to be essential to the success of all military operations to reduce the insecurity plaguing the country.
In 2023, Nigerian Army Day Celebrations (NADCEL), held at the All Saints Military Cantonment, Mogadishu barracks, Asokoro, Abuja, the COAS announced this and thanked officers and soldiers for their sacrifices of blood and treasure to keep the country united.
Significant progress has been made, according to him, in the war against terrorism, insurgency, armed banditry, and other types of criminality in the nation’s numerous theaters of operations.
He also praised officers and soldiers for acting in a professional manner, supporting the smooth conduct of all elections in the nation since 1999, and demonstrating unwavering loyalty to the Nigerian Constitution and the current administration. He claimed that this single action portrayed the army as a force that believes in democracy as the only permissible form of government as outlined by our Constitution.
He claimed that NADCEL 2023, which also happens to be the 160th anniversary of the Nigerian Army, will be an important opportunity for the Nigerian Army to reflect on and evaluate the efforts and sacrifices made by its members to keep our beloved country safe and secure. There is no disputing that the 21st century’s global security environment has grown more volatile, unpredictable, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA),” he stated. Those who have been in the scene for a long can attest to the rather unsettling fact that this description accurately captures the current security environment in Nigeria. The various security agencies of the government have continued to address these issues with impressive achievements while our dear country faces problems in all six geopolitical zones.
The theme for this year’s NADCEL was “Sound Administration as a Panacea for Effective Military Operations,” which was chosen on purpose. Refocusing efforts on administration as one of the supporting pillars for military operations is the goal.
As stated in my command philosophy, which is “To transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped, and highly motivated force toward achieving our constitutional responsibilities within a joint environment,” significant improvement in our administration is a key factor in doing this. The Nigerian Army will therefore be led by me.
“I promise that the Nigerian Army under my leadership shall remain loyal, committed, disciplined, and responsive to the dictate of our Constitution and shall be a potent instrument of power for the country,” Gen. Lagabaja said, thanking Nigerians for their unwavering belief and trust in the Nigerian army as well as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for placing their trust in him to lead the Nigerian army at this time.
“I vow to give the Nigerian Army’s officers, soldiers, and family members strong leadership that would enable you to serve in the Nigerian Army of your dreams.
Finally, I want to say how much I value the assistance that the Nigerian Army gets from other security organizations and sister services. While we are doing everything we can to defend our territorial integrity and maintain peace in our beloved country, I implore you not to give up on working with the Nigerian Army.