NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Defence/Security

No French military base in Maiduguri- Army

349 total views today

By Hamza Suleiman

The Headquarters, Theatre Command, Joint Task Force, North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) of the Nigerian Army, has dismissed claims of the establishment of a French military base in Maiduguri.

In a statement on Monday, Capt. Reuben Kovangiya, Army Public Relations, OPHK, described the claims as baseless and misleading.

The clarification followed allegations by a social media influencer, Mahdi Shehu, on his X handle, claiming that a French military base had been established in Maiduguri.

Shehu supported his claim with a video showing the acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Brig.-Gen. Abubakar Haruna, alongside a foreign officer, who he alleged to be a French military representative.

Kovangiya, however, clarified that the video in question was recorded during a recent press briefing at Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri, after the donation of equipment to the army by the British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT).

“The officer seen in the video is a representative of BMATT, not a French military official.

“The donation, received by the Theatre Commander, Maj.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, on Oct. 25, was part of an ongoing military partnership with BMATT to strengthen counter-IED capabilities in the theatre of operations,” he said.

Kovangiya emphasised that there was no French military presence in Maiduguri, nor any plans to establish one.

He accused Shehu of deliberately spreading falsehoods and attempting to manipulate public opinion through the use of doctored content.

“The claims made by Shehu Mahdi are baseless misrepresentations and a deliberate attempt to cause misinformation and incite the public.

“Such antics are malicious and aimed at gaining cheap popularity,” he added. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo

Defence/Security

Army chief charges junior officers to be enterprising, resourceful

236 total views today

By Sani Idris

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has charged students of the Junior Course 98 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, to be enterprising, diligent and resourceful.

Oluyede gave the charge while addressing the students at their regimental dinner night on Wednesday in Jaji, Kaduna State.

According to him, possessing the attributes will enable them build successfully on their career and personal lives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dinner night is one of the major events lined up for the graduation of the students on Friday.

Oluyede said the objective of the college was to develop the professional knowledge and understanding of selected officers to prepare them for staff and command appointments.

He said the officers in the last 23 weeks had learnt some vital concepts like counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, estimate process and manoeuvring approach to warfare and peace support operations.

“It is also gratifying that you learnt the rudiments of time management, perseverance, determination, team spirit, staff work, self confidence and most importantly, discipline while on this course.

“Your leadership, dedication and ability to inspire and guide your teams are essential to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and excellence.

”As junior leaders, you must be able to inspire confidence in subordinates and not lead through intimidation or be overtly coercive.

“Your impact significantly contributes to the overall plan and objectives at the operational and strategic levels,“ he said.

The army chief congratulated the students on the successful completion of their course

NAN reports that prizes were given to students who distinguished themselves (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Mufutau Ojo

Defence/Security

Security: Army advocates more inter-agency collaboration

328 total views today

 

By Rita Iliya

The Nigerian Army has stressed the need for synergy among security agencies to combat insecurity in the country and Niger.

 

Maj.-Gen. Kevin Aligbe, Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), made the call at the 2024 Joint West Africa Social Activities (WASA) held at the Minna military cantonment.

 

Aligbe said the event provides an opportunity for social activities and showcases the cultural heritage of Nigerians.

 

He commended the troops of TRADOC and 31 Artillery Brigade for their bravery and sacrifices, adding that they successfully conducted all their activities for the training circle for the year 2024.

 

According to him, the success was recorded in spite of the complex security operating environment in Niger.

 

Aligbe expressed optimism that the brigade and units in the state are set to consolidate the operational gains made so far.

 

He acknowledged the efforts of other security agencies, including the 013 Quick Response of the Nigerian Air Force and all other security and intelligence agencies.

 

The commander also lauded the financial and moral support of former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja and the present COAS Lt.-Gen. Femi Oluyede to training, operations, and welfare of personnel.

 

Aligbe described WASA as an annual event that promotes unity and peaceful co-existence among the Nigerian army family.

 

Earlier, Brig.-Gen. Hamidu Bobbo, Commander, 31 Artillery Brigade, commended the troops for their bravery and sacrifices.

 

Bobbo said the army would continue to work towards winning all land battles in defence of the territorial integrity of Nigeria, protecting national interest, and accomplishing tasks in a civil authority.

 

In his remarks, Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger, commended the Nigerian army’s efforts in improving the security situation in the state.

 

Bago, represented by Rtd. Gen. Bello Muhammad, Commissioner for Homeland Security, cited improvements in travel safety, farming activities, and harvests.

 

The governor said WASA had fostered unity and cohesion among the army, and promoting a sense of oneness among Nigerians.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that WASA is an annual event organised by the Nigerian army to celebrate the diverse rich cultural heritage of Nigeria.

 

The event brings together officers, soldiers, and their families in a relaxed atmosphere to celebrate and mark the end of the year’s activities.

 

Highlights of the event included cultural displays, dance performances, and regimental activities by the troops and presentation of awards to officers for their outstanding performance. (NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Defence/Security

Acting COAS pledges to prioritise welfare of soldiers

337 total views today

 

By Abiodun Azi

The acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, says he will continue to prioritise the welfare and health of the personnel for utmost service delivery.

Oluyede said this after inaugurating an 84-bed space accommodation facility for military interns at the 66 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Yaba (NARHY) on Thursday in Lagos.

He assured that the welfare of soldiers and officers would continue to be given prompt attention while underscoring the importance of personnel at the military medical Corps to soldiers and their families.

Oluyede charged the beneficiaries to ensure maintenance of the facility, saying that it would improve their comfort and better state of mind for the effective discharge of their duties.

Earlier, the acting Commander, Corps of Medical, Brig.-Gen Samson Okoigi, commended the COAS for gifting the command such an edifice.

According to him, the facility is not just a building, but a representation of the authority’s commitment in nurturing the future of the Nigeria Army Medical Corps.

“It is a commitment that ensures that our interns have the best possible environment to learn, grow and thrive.”

Okoigi noted that having such an edifice was an important requirement for the accreditation of the hospital’s continuous internship training.

“With a hospital with 250 Intens, this 84-bed accommodation will go a long way in alleviating the suffering of some of the interns who have to come to work from distant places with the attendant increased cost of transportation.

“The Ag COAS’s leadership has been instrumental in making this project a reality.

“It reflects our shared commitment to the health and well-being of our personnel and their families.

“To the interns: You are an integral part of the medical community.  Your dedication, resilience and passion for service are what drive us forward.

“The new accommodation was designed with your needs in mind providing a space that fosters collaboration, learning and camaraderie,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Kamal Tayo Oropo

Defence/Security

Army must select recruits with physical, intellectual capacity– Experts

489 total views today

 

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Some serving and retired army generals have emphasised the need for the Nigerian Army to select recruits with both physical strength and intellectual capacity to meet future operational demands.

The views were canvassed at a one-day Nigerian Army Military History Seminar organised by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) on Tuesday in Abuja, with the theme “Military History and Decision Making in the Nigerian Army Drawing Lessons from the Past Challenges and Prospects.”

Retired Maj.-Gen. Stephenson Olabanji, who delivered a paper on “Nigerian Army’s Cultural Evolution Since 1863”, said that little emphasis was placed on educational qualifications of enlisted men at inception.

Olabanji said that the force had, however, metamorphosed into a highly educated upwardly mobile band of professionals across all facets of learning.

He explained that “the current Nigerian army is making commendable strides to modernise the force.”

He emphasised that recruitment must be enhanced with improved processes to be able to achieve an ideal soldier.

According to him, recruitment system should be up-scaled with heightened emphasis on physical fitness, mental toughness, strategic thinking and
adaptability to diverse operational environment.

“This is because future battlefield will not only require physical strength, but intellectual capacity and emotional resilience.

“The concept of ideal soldier is central to Nigerian army’s vision for operational success, while the skills and competencies of the ideal soldier must align with Nigeria’s national interest.

“Ideal soldiers function as cohesive and highly effective force in pursuit of national interest.

“Ideal soldier is expected to exhibit profound love for homeland because love for country translates to readiness to defend the country at all cost, soldier with strong patriotism likely to uphold Nigerian army’s values and contribute to successes,’’ he added.

In his remarks, Retired Maj.-Gen. Ahmed Jibrin, the Special Assistant, Technical to the Minister of Defence, said the seminar would help to expose soldiers to lessons learnt from past wars and battles.

Jibrin said it was not enough for the military to prepare and go to war but having it in mind that some of the plans made might not come true.

According to him, each and everyone of the principles of war is derived from the lessons learned in history.

“And so, since we are using the principle to fight the present war and even the future war, then it is necessary for us to know that without history, we cannot build today and the future.

“In the past, these technological advancements were not in the stage, but the lesson of history has taught us that things will not continue to be as they used to.

“Nations will continue to strive to make efforts to come up with more modern ways and means of dealing with security situations confronting them.”

The Deputy Chief of Training (Training and Exercise), Army, Maj.-Gen. Musa Etsu-Ndagi, said the soldier of the future must be a smart soldier that should be well-educated.

Etsu-Ndagi said such a soldier should be in tune with realities of the time such as technology, to be able to navigate the battlefield of the future.

The Director-General of NARC, Retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, described the seminar as an “indirect approach training to look at what was being done right from lessons learnt from the past.”

Wahab said that the first seminar had been of immense benefit to the army, adding that the second edition was expected to help them come up with lessons and gaps needed to be filled.

According to him, it is not just for the soldier to be physically fit and man the weapon, but ability to relate with the community, and be able to communicate effectively.

He said: “it goes beyond handling of weapons because that weapon is being held in trust for Nigerians to be able to secure them.

“So, we have to find a way of ensuring that trust is built between not only the army, but all the security agencies and the community they are securing.”(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

General News

NAN MD lauds army’s resilience toward peace in the North-East

317 total views today

By Hamza Suleiman

Malam Ali M. Ali, the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has commended the Nigerian Army’s resilience and dedication toward restoring peace in the North-East.

 

Ali gave the commendation on Monday when he led the NAN management team on a courtesy to Maj. Gen. Waidi Shuaibu, the Theartre Commamder, North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), at the Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.

 

He expressed NAN’s solidarity with the people of Borno and appreciated the military for its sacrifices.

 

Ali praised the Theatre Commander and his team for their swift and coordinated response to the September flood disasters which ravaged the city of Maiduguri.

 

He acknowledged the command’s role in rescue efforts, noting that local residents had attributed their safety to the heroic actions of the commanders and soldiers who directly led the rescue missions.

 

Ali highlighted NAN’s commitment to accurate and comprehensive reporting of Nigeria’s news, especially from challenging regions like the North-East.

 

“NAN is the largest news content provider in the continent of Africa and is proud to partner with progressive institutions like the Nigerian military,” Ali said.

 

He emphasised NAN’s role in combating misinformation, particularly in conflict zones, through credible journalism supported by partnerships with Reuters, Xinhua, AP and other news wire networks.

 

He lauded the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, for the logistics and moral support to frontline soldiers, describing that as key to successes in counter-insurgency efforts.

 

The NAN boss commended the military’s achievements in prompting over 160,000 militant surrenders and enabling the return of roughly two million displaced persons to their homes.

 

He noted that the accomplishments were a testament to the command’s “kinetic and non-kinetic” strategies which had significantly weakened insurgent capacities.

 

In response, the Theatre Commander expressed his gratitude for NAN’s support, affirming the army’s dedication to stabilising the region and ensuring that socio-economic activities resumed in affected areas.

 

He emphasised the commitment of his officers and men toward restoring normalcy across Borno, Yobe and parts of Adamawa.

 

Other members of NAN management on the visiting team included Mr Ephraims Sheyin, Editor-in-Chief, Alhaji Abdulhadi Khaliel, Director of Administration, Mr Ojo Mufutau, Director, Special Duties, and Mrs Ngozi Anofochi, Board Secretary.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Defence/Security

Taoreed Lagbaja is alive – Army

533 total views today

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army has refuted the rumoured death of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, by some individuals on social platforms.

The army refuted the rumour in a post on its official X Handle on Sunday, tagging a post by one Jackson Ude as: “Fake News”.

Some online reports had insinuated that the Army Chief had passed on in an undisclosed hospital abroad.

All the reports quoted the said Jackson Ude as their source without any official confirmation from the Army and Defence Headquarters.

However, the Director, Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Saturday, issued a statement that the COAS was on leave and also attending to his health outside the country.

Nwachukwu said that there was no leadership vacuum in the Nigerian Army, clarifying that the Chief of Policy and Plans, Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Ibrahim, was in charge of affairs in the army.

He said that while some of the stories were laughable and deserved no further reference, others had bothered on pure mischief calculated to cause panic and confusion within the rank and file, as well as the general public.

“To be very clear, the Nigerian Army is a highly structured establishment with well-laid-out procedures and processes for dealing with different circumstances.

“Before proceeding on leave, necessary protocols were put in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalami Ibrahim, to act on behalf of the COAS, while he is away.

“This is not peculiar to the army as there have been instances where unforeseen human frailty kept service chiefs away for about three months, and their Chiefs of Policy and Plans held sway in their absence.

“The Army Headquarters, therefore, enjoins the general public to remain confident in the Nigerian Army and be assured that the Service remains on top of the security situations in the country and is ever ready to defend Nigeria against any aggression on its land territory.

“Meanwhile, the Army Headquarters wishes to thank all well-meaning Nigerians who have shown genuine concern about Lt.-Gen.T. A. Lagbaja and have continued to pray for him,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joe Idika

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