The Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi, (retd) said that there are not any quick fixes to combat this security challenges bedeviling the country.
General Magashi who spoke at the passing out parade of 108 Cadets of Direct Short Service Commission Course 27, DSSC at the Nigerian Naval College, Onne, Rivers State on Saturday said that the military service is working during a growing complex and ambiguous environment that’s difficult to deal with .
Represented by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, General Magashi said that Nigeria and therefore the entire gulf of Guinea has within the previous couple of years been challenged by asymmetric and emerging security threats emanating from insurgency, militancy, economic sabotage, and anti-democratic forces.
He said that COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest had further demonstrated the frailty and complexity of human security.
He said “It is pertinent to say that the military service is working during a growing complex and ambiguous environment that are difficult to deal with, accordingly, our nation and indeed the whole gulf of Guinea has within the previous couple of years been challenged by asymmetric and emerging security threats emanating from insurgency, militancy, economic sabotage and anti-democratic forces.
“The COVID-19 pandemic and therefore the civil unrest has further demonstrated the frailty and complexity nature of human security, apparently, there are not any quick fixes to effectively combat security challenges bedevilling our dear nation.
“It is, therefore, germaine to understand the untiring support of Mr. President, Commander-in-Chief of the soldiers of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Mohammadu Buhari, as he continues to demonstrate resolve and full support for the Nigerian soldiers through the resourcing of operational requirements and personnel welfare.
“It is against this background, that His excellency recently approved the rise within the manpower intake of the soldiers to comprehensively tackle the multifaceted security threats across the state .
“I am equally glad to notice that in assisting sister services within the north-east operations against Boko Haram insurgents. The Nigerian Navy has continued to spearhead internal security operations within the Niger Delta region against militancy, piracy, sea robberies and petroleum theft.
“It is therefore of utmost necessity that the Nigerian soldiers continuously build institutional capacity, through effective systematic and robust training merged with requisite capacities to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria from both external and internal aggression.”
Highlights of the event were the decoration of the 108 cadets with their new ranks and administration of oath of allegiance by the Chief of Naval Staff, flag officer Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas to the new cadets.
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