By Inusa Ndahi, Maiduguri
The Chief of Army Staff, CoAS, Lt-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, has said that the Army will continue to review strategies to overwhelm and defeat the nation’s adversaries.
General Yahaya siad that such strategies comprise techniques and military procedures to secure the country in protecting people’s lives and property.
Unveiling the security strategies, on Tuesday, in Maiduguri, at a seminar tagged: ‘Intensifying Warrior Ethos and Regimentation in the Nigerian Army,’ Yahaya disclosed that the Army is using both kinetic and non-kinetic means in securing people’s lives and property across the nation.
Represented by the Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, OPHK, Maj-General Christopher Musa, General Yahaya lamented that the nation is witnessing a very challenging time in its history with myriads of complex security challenges bedeviling the country.
Besides, he added, that there are enormous responsibility for the Nigerian Army.
Reiterating President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that the adversaries of Nigeria must be defeated decisively, General Yahaya thanked President Buhari for providing resources for the Army to carry out their duty effectively.
He said, “Our complex security environment is replete with acts of insecurity, terrorism, kidnapping, ethno-religious conflicts and banditry from non-state actors, N-SA.”
He averred that th N-SA include Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, and the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, among others.
The Army Chief, however, noted that the gallant troops if the Nigerian Army have continued to record successes against the nation’s adversaries.
He therefore tasked commanders at all levels to live up to the expectations, take charge and work towards changing the psyche of troops.
He declared, “The troops’ psyche change was to develop a winning posture at all times.”
On the regimentation of commanders and troops, he said that it could be achieved through innovative thinking with critical approaches to strategic implementation of the Army vision.
He added, “This seminar seeks to rekindle the warrior spirit and regimentation of commanders and their troops.”
The CoAS noted that the performance of any formation or unit reflects the level of command and leadership acumen of the commanders.
He told his listeners that regimentation creates the bond and discipline required for various military operations; adding that this cannot be achieved without discipline in the fulcrum of military regimentation.
General Yahaya, speaking through General Musa, urged the participants to express their views for cross fertilisation of ideas, adding, “Let me tell you, since the Mr President gave us marching order to deal ruthlessly with the enemies of the country, there is no hiding place for terrorists and insurgents.”
On the challenges of regimentation, Brig-General Hassan Lai (rtd), said that leadership in the military units is critical while enforcing “regimentation and documentation,” with administrative control to achieve efficiency.
Besides enforcing regimentation, he added that unit establishment, weak enforcement of military discipline, inadequate knowledge base and maintenance of morale to ensure confidence among troops; are however the challenges to be overcome.
He added, “There are inadequate modern management concepts to ensure proper control and efficiency in military operations.”
He also attributed illicit drug abuse, inadequate adherence to the code of conduct in military operation and non-respect of the rules of engagement as some of the challenges of regimentation in the Army.
