The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has affirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to forcefully counter terrorism, insurgency, and other forms of criminality to safeguard law-abiding citizens.
According to Director, Army Public Relations Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, General Lagbaja made this statement during a brief interview following the conclusion of a 5-day Commanding Officers’ Workshop held at Port Harcourt Barracks. The workshop, themed “Enhancing Tactical Level Command and Leadership within a Joint Environment,” aimed to equip commanding officers with essential skills to navigate the complex security landscape.
He emphasized that the Nigerian Army (NA) will continue to address security threats in line with constitutional provisions, codes of conduct, and rules of engagement to ensure the protection of innocent Nigerians.
The Army Chief underscored the importance of commanding officers (COs) in implementing his vision to transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped, and motivated force capable of fulfilling its constitutional duties in a joint environment. He highlighted the necessity of investing in training COs to understand the contemporary command environment, characterized by technological advancements, social media, and other societal factors.
General Lagbaja urged COs to develop a realistic vision, cultivate synergy with security stakeholders, and maintain military ethics. He advised them to navigate the influence of social media carefully and administer new recruits ingeniously according to established policies and regulations. He also stressed the importance of technological literacy and ICT training within their units.
He further instructed COs to implement the 2024 Training Directive with a focus on realistic training exercises as a measure of effective training.
General Lagbaja commended Major General Sani Mohammed, Chief of Training (Army), for initiating the workshop, and Major General Jamal Abdussalam, GOC 6 Division, for his support in planning and hosting the event. He assured that key recommendations from the workshop would be duly considered.
During his visit, the COAS commissioned various projects, including a block of 10 family flats, the 6 Division Python Shopping Mall, and a 1.4-kilometer road linking the 26 Support Engineer Regiment Headquarters. He also laid the foundation for a new officers’ transit accommodation block and planted trees as part of ongoing projects in Port Harcourt Barracks.
