The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, has called on the Operatives of the Nigerian Army to prioritize training, discipline and commitment to duty in their day to day activities.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the second commanding officers workshop hosted by 81 Division Nigerian Army titled, “Enhancing Operational Capacity of Commanding Officers for Better Performance in a Joint Environment,” Lagbaja who was represented by the Commander of the Nigerian Army (NA) Corps of Engineers, Major General Philip Eromosele said officers are expected to be at the forefront of waging war against societal menace.
Speaking further, he emphasized the need for a premium security of barracks, and cantonments against external aggression able to cause harm or disarray.
“I therefore wish to reiterate that training, discipline and commitment to duty are all part of relevant solutions to the current drive of repositioning the Nigerian Army. It is in the light of this, that training workshops are routinely organized for various cadres of officers in the Nigerian Army.
“It is imperative to state, as my predecessor once observed “our roadmap to readiness would entail improved training, optimal resourcing, innovation firm leadership and proactiveness. Training workshop of this type, therefore, is aimed at broadening your professional knowledge, administrative competencies and refresh your responsibilities as Commanding Officers incombating the contemporary security challenges facing the Country. Therefore, the theme of this workshop titled “Enhancing Operational Capacity of Commanding Officers for Better Performance in a Joint Environment” is aptly coined. This is premised on fact that, most of you Commanding Officers and your respective units are currently at the vanguard of efforts directed at ensuring security of your respective areas of responsibility.
“The fight against kidnapping, smuggling, pipeline vandalism, banditry, terrorism, secessionist movements and other forms of security challenges in our dear country is multi-dimensional and complex. Consequently, the response of the NA to the scourge of insecurity has been robust, holistic and dynamic. This comprises government financial support, improved inter-agencies cooperation and mission specific training across all cadres in the military.
“For the Commanding Officers whose units are currently engaged in ongoing internal security and counter-insurgency operations; I charge you to continuously train your troops in all aspects of Military Operations Other Than War, especially as it affects your AOR. You should note that the ever-changing nature of conflicts has brought a trend that is focused on hands on-forward presence command and leadership style. This is needed to maintain unitcohesion and morale under demanding circumstances. Command and leadership are great tools for victory, and the NA’s resolve in achieving victorycould be seen in our deployments of NA troops in various theatre of operation across the country as well as creating new units and forward operating base.
These were aimed at providing the much needed impetus which have resulted in several successes. As Commanding Officers you are key players in this resolve.
“Let me also at this juncture further emphasize that the security of your barracks, cantonments and locations is a command responsibility. This is even more so that you are commanding under a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environment. This commanders’ ability to make administrative, operational or tactical judgment and exercise effective leadership must be unquestionable.
“You are therefore advised to go any length to secure your locations from unauthorized access and sabotage. The actions of your troops should be guided by Nigerian Army Code of Conduct for Internal Security Operations. You should also be careful, impartial and compassionate in dealing with your host communities, hence the need for you to maintain a food civil-military relations in your AOR,” he said