The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has urged Nigerian Army veterans to support the service in ongoing operations to combat security challenges across the country.
Yahaya spoke at the opening of a weeklong seminar for Nigerian Army veterans from Southwest, with the theme: Harnessing the potentials of Nigerian Army veterans in community base security, held at Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC) in Lagos.
Yahaya, who was represented by the Nigerian Army’s Chief of Administration, Maj.-Gen. O. W. Ali, said the seminar would focus on the importance of veterans, bearing in mind their enduring roles in community security.
He said: “This seminar is designed to build on previous editions with focus on resilient national issues, particularly security, as we continue to leverage on the experiences of our veterans in furtherance of our military operations.
“Thus, the essence of this workshop is to build participants’ capacity to effectively support my vision, which is to build a professional Nigerian Army ready to accomplish assigned nation’s routine within the environment in defence of Nigeria.
“This workshop, therefore, focuses on the importance of Nigerian Army’s veterans, bearing in mind their enduring roles in community security, especially at this critical time that Nigeria is faced with diverse but surmountable security challenges.
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“We are all conversant with the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, secessionist agitation, among others. These realities make this theme for this seminar apt as it provides the forum for continuous synergy with our veterans in support of our operations which are already yielding positive results.
“You will all agree with me that through the combined efforts of our citizens, deliberate collaboration and synergy between those of us serving and our retired but not tired discharged personnel, we have better position to tackle this security challenges.
“To this end, our activities will continue to have direct impact on the lives and wellbeing of our veterans.”
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Obinna Ajunwa, noted that the Army’s veterans have vital roles to play in enhancing the safety and security of lives in communities they reside.
Ajunwa added that the theme of the workshop was apt enough in contributing to solving Nigeria’s contemporary security challenges.
“I consider this seminar as a unique opportunity for all of us, especially the participants. This seminar is expected to consolidate on the gains of the previous editions…
“The importance of Nigerian Army’s veterans in community security definitely cannot be over-emphasised. Consequently, Nigerian Army veterans are expected to be robust in terms of quick thinking. They must be analytical and armed with problem solving skills to serve as a force multiplier to other active security agencies in safeguarding lives and properties in their immediate communities.
“I believe that at the end of this seminar, you will acquire such unique qualities to support military operations around and within your respective communities,” he said.