Tag: christopher musa

Sani urges journalists to purge social media of fake news

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has said the military and the media perform critical functions for national development and stability.

He said the relationship between both institutions should be strengthened in national interest.

The CDS noted that the need for synergy between both institutions has never been more pressing than in this era of insurgency and evolving security threats across the country.

Gen. Musa spoke spoke yesterday at a symposium, with the theme: The Future of Journalism Practice in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects, organised by the Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

The CDS, who was represented by the One Division Garrison Commander of the Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Kanah, noted that the dynamics of modern journalism practice and the challenging security landscape have made it compelling for both institutions to work together in the interest of the country and its citizens.

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He said: “In today’s rapidly changing security environment, the media plays an indispensable role in shaping public perception, disseminating vital information, and fostering national unity.

“The relationship between the military and the media, therefore, cannot be overstated, as both institutions serve critical functions in national development and stability.

“The need for synergy between the military and the media has never been more pressing than in this era of asymmetric warfare, insurgency, and evolving security threats.

“While the military is tasked with protecting our national sovereignty and maintaining law and order, the media serves as the watchdog of society, ensuring accountability and transparency.

“However, the interface between these two institutions has often been fraught with challenges, stemming from issues of misinformation, sensationalism and a lack of trust. It is, therefore, imperative that we foster a more dynamic and collaborative relationship that ensures responsible reporting while safeguarding national security interests.

“To achieve this synergy, there is a need for continuous engagement, capacity-building, and mutual respect between the military and the media. The media must be empowered with accurate and timely information to counter false narratives that may undermine national security.

Nigeria will not tolerate any form of disrespect from any country against its citizens, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, said yesterday.

He was firing back at the Canadian High Commission which denied him and some military top brass visas to travel for the Invictus games in Vancouver, Canada, last week.

CDS spoke at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Abuja, after receiving the wounded soldiers that participated in the event in Canada.

Gen. Musa said that Nigerians were being treated unfairly by some countries.

The CDS and some military chiefs, who were scheduled to attend the Invictus games, were denied visa by the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria.

The action was condemned by the Federal Government, with the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu and the Interior Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, describing it as unacceptable.

Speaking further, the CDS also dismissed insinuations from some quarters that members of the armed forces were not invited to participate in the Invictus games initiated by Duke of Sussex.

Giving an insight into what transpired during the preparation for the programme, Gen. Musa said they followed all the due process and that every concerned government officials including Ministers and NSA were aware.

He said: “On the issue of the denial of the visa, it must be tackled at all abroad. Nigeria is good enough for all of us. We had an agreement, we were invited, the programme was sent to us, we followed our requirements; we followed the process.

“Everybody knows members of the Armed Forces, we will never take shortcuts. The Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of State, the NSA, everybody is aware about this journey, and we followed the process.

“But for reasons best known to them, most of the members of the team were denied visas. You remember, the team captain did not go. The medical doctor was not there. The physiotherapist did not go. All those that were important for the team were not given visas. And the question is why?

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“Well, I’m happy that the federal government is also looking at those aspects. I think it’s important for people to understand that we deserve respect as Nigerians all over the world. We must never accommodate disrespect from anybody because we are a good country.

“For our Indigenous guests participating, you have made Nigeria proud. Your courage and determination have left an indelible mark on the hearts of all who have witnessed your journey. You are true embodiment of the Indigenous spirit, unconquered, unbroken, and unstoppable.”

Gen. Musa assured that some of the military officers who have their legs and hands amputated or have other deformation, won’t be abandoned as some people want it to be.

He said: “As we celebrate the achievements of our team, let us also remember the sacrifices made by all of our ex-service members in line with their duties.

“Let us continue to honour the sacrifices provided to support the country by committing resources to ensure their well-being for their successful re-integration into civilian life.

“For me, as the Chief of the Defense Staff, this is a clarion call, that whatever it takes to raise the morale of our troops, we will do it, whatever the cost is, because we know, once the troops see what we are doing with those that are injured, they will want to do their best because they know if anything happens to them, they will want to do their best.

“I’ve had comments from individuals across, mostly from the views of ignorance in the aspect that, why are we taking troops out? And I wonder, if you see those that have sacrificed so much, if you see those that have died, if you see those ones that have amputated legs, hands, and somebody thinks it is not important or it is not good for us, to look after them.

“Those other countries that sent their own were not doing it just because they wanted to do it but because they knew the importance. So, sometimes when we go to school, we should read deep and allow schools to also pass through us.”

• 14 foreigners de-radicalised, others repatriated

A total of 789 former terrorist combatants are currently undergoing Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DRR) programme under the Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) initiative.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, announced this at the OPSC stakeholders’ meeting at the Defence Headquarters yesterday in Abuja.

The OPSC programme was initiated by the Federal Government due to the mass surrendering of Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) members.

Gen. Musa, who was represented by the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans, AVM Sayo Olatunde, said the programme followed well-coordinated operations by all stakeholders.

The CDS said this led to over 120,000 insurgents and their family members surrendering since the inception of the programme.

He added that the 789 ex-combatants were expected to graduate this year.

Gen. Musa said the meeting focused on how to fashion out the modalities to ensure the proper reintegration of the first of two batches consisting 391 clients into their states.

The CDS said the meeting provided a critical platform for the military to reflect on a collective effort on the de-radicalisation initiative while assessing the progress made and strategising against anticipated challenges.

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He said: “I must state that your relentless efforts and commitment to ensuring national security are highly appreciated. The successes recorded so far are a testament to your resilience and commitment to duty.

“Despite the successes, we must remember that there is a lot more to be done, hence the importance of this stakeholders’ meeting.

“Consequently, we currently have a total of 789 ex-combatants undergoing a de-radicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration programme under the initiative. They are expected to graduate this year.

“Today’s meeting, therefore, centered on coming up with modalities to ensure the proper reintegration of the first of two batches consisting of 391 clients into their states.”

Gen. Musa urged beneficiary state governments to facilitate the seamless reintegration of the ex-combatants by providing additional support to ease the transition process.

The CDS expressed optimism that working closely with local and traditional authorities would help the states to deploy security apparatus at their disposal to effectively track and monitor the progress of the reintegrated ex-combatants.

Also, the Commander of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), Brig.-Gen. Yusuf Ali, said OPSC was a multi-agency humanitarian scheme backed by extant provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria as well as International Humanitarian and Human Right Laws.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has confirmed the killing of two notorious terrorist kingpins, Kachalla Gwammade and Kachalla Shehu, in Zamfara State, in an operation that has left wanted terrorist leader, Bello Turji, scrambling for escape.

Gen. Musa made the disclosure at the closing ceremony of the CDS Joint Task Force Commanders’ Conference at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja. He stated that the operation, executed under “Operation Show No Mercy,” eliminated the two bandit leaders along with four of their foot soldiers in Ruwan Dawa village, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

He revealed that the troops stationed at Hannu Tara camp, along the Magami–Dan Sadau highway, carried out the operation in collaboration with local vigilantes. According to him, the terrorists engaged in a fierce gun battle with the troops, leading to the neutralization of six armed criminals and the recovery of three motorcycles and several firearms.

Kachalla Gwammade, a key terror commander, was known to operate from a base in Chabi village, northeast of Maru LGA. He was also a relative of the late Kachalla Sani Black, a notorious warlord recently eliminated in ongoing military operations.

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The successful operation marks another milestone in the intensified offensive against terrorists in Zamfara and the broader North-West region. Speaking on the significance of the conference, themed “Enhancing Jointness Across All Theaters of Operation,” Gen. Musa lauded the depth of discussions, presentations, and strategic insights shared over the three-day event.

“I wish to express my profound appreciation for your active participation, unwavering commitment, and valuable contributions to this conference. There is no doubt that this event has enabled us to reflect on our collective efforts and the attendant challenges faced in addressing the security situation in our country,” he said.

He emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among security forces, noting that joint task forces must continue to operate as a cohesive and integrated unit.

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The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has begun stakeholders’ and communities’ engagements to enable the Federal Government actualise its target of increasing oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd).

The CDS yesterday met behind closed doors with various stakeholders, including the representatives of the government, oil companies, and local communities in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

He said the oil and gas stakeholders’ meeting was designed to remove all encumbrances affecting oil production optimisation in the country.

At the end of the meeting, Musa stressed the essence of effective stakeholder engagement in sustaining oil and gas operations to meet the projected revenue targets.

The CDS said the Federal Government was committed to boosting oil production in the region, stressing that this would only be achieved by having all stakeholders on the same page.

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He noted that oil production remained critical for socio-economic development and that the recent efforts had led to a significant increase in production with the current output exceeding 1.8 million bpd.

Musa urged the participants to be honest and objective in outlining the challenges, ensuring that strategies were inclusive, comprehensive, and realistic to meet the marching orders of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The CDS explained that meeting was convened to reassess activities in the Niger Delta region, particularly as they affected oil and gas production.

He admitted that while some level of success was achieved last year, more needed to be done to improve the situation.

Musa said there was a need for synergy among all organisations, security agencies, private companies, and local communities to achieve the target.

The CDS urged all stakeholders to embrace non-kinetic efforts, which involve working with local communities to protect oil facilities.

He explained that when communities have a stake in the facilities, they would protect them from vandals.

“This approach has been successful in other regions, including the Northeast, the Northwest, and the Northcentral,” he said.

Musa made it clear that pipeline vandalism is not beneficial to anyone as it is replete with severe consequences.

The CDS urged the citizens, particularly those in communities around oil-producing areas, to cooperate with the government to realise the oil production target.

He said: “We have realised over time, in the Niger Delta and the Northeast, the Northwest, and the Northcentral that non-kinetic efforts give us more success. And why is that?

“It is because once the people have a buy-in to know that the facility is for them equally and they are the part of the success of it, they, on their own, will protect it and will not allow anybody to vandalise it. That is what we want to encourage them to understand.”

The Executive Vice President of Gas, Power, and New Energy at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Olalerasun Ogunleye, who represented the Group Chief Executive officer of NNPCL, Mr. Mele Kyari, said the oil giant remained committed to working with security forces to achieve this target.

Ogunleye emphasized the importance of synergy among stakeholders, noting that while progress had been made, there was still room for improvement.

Also, the National Security Adviser’s office expressed support for the initiative, with Ojukaye Flag-Amachree saying the government was committed to ensuring that the country’s oil and gas resources translated to better living conditions for the people.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has begun stakeholders’ and communities’ engagements to enable the Federal Government actualise its target of increasing oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd).

The CDS yesterday met behind closed doors with various stakeholders, including the representatives of the government, oil companies, and local communities in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

He said the oil and gas stakeholders’ meeting was designed to remove all encumbrances affecting oil production optimisation in the country.

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At the end of the meeting, Musa stressed the essence of effective stakeholder engagement in sustaining oil and gas operations to meet the projected revenue targets.

The CDS said the Federal Government was committed to boosting oil production in the region, stressing that this would only be achieved by having all stakeholders on the same page.

He noted that oil production remained critical for socio-economic development and that the recent efforts had led to a significant increase in production with the current output exceeding 1.8 million bpd.

Musa urged the participants to be honest and objective in outlining the challenges, ensuring that strategies were inclusive, comprehensive, and realistic to meet the marching orders of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The CDS explained that meeting was convened to reassess activities in the Niger Delta region, particularly as they affected oil and gas production.

He admitted that while some level of success was achieved last year, more needed to be done to improve the situation.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa’s innovative leadership is leading the military towards national stability and safety, an aide to the Kaduna State Governor, Victor Mathew Bobai, has said.

 Bobai who is the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Public Affairs to Kaduna State governor, Mallam Uba Sani, said General Musa’s strategic initiatives have been a game-changer for Nigeria’s national security, “having implemented a range of innovative approaches to counter insurgency and terrorism, which have significantly improved the country’s security landscape.”

 He said the CDS’s insightful interview on AlJazeera news revealed his exceptional leadership that has seen to the improvement of the security situation in the country.

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 The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, in an interview  with AlJazeera on January 5, shed light on the challenges Nigeria has faced in its counter-terrorism efforts. He revealed that the international community’s reluctance to provide the Nigerian Military with necessary equipment has significantly prolonged the fight against insurgency. According to General Musa, this conspiracy has hindered the military’s ability to effectively combat terrorist groups, allowing them to persist and continue wreaking havoc on the country.

 Bobai emphasised how General Musa’s dedication to modernising military tactics, integrating advanced technologies, and improving interagency cooperation has established a more effective and responsive defense sector.