The Chief of Military Workers, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, on Tuesday, restated that the navy would enable itself for use by some curiosity teams to truncate democratic governance within the nation.
Lagbaja acknowledged this in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State whereas talking through the opening ceremony of the COAS Mixed 2nd and third Quarters Convention on Tuesday.
Whereas noting that such a name for a navy takeover was coming from younger Nigerians, who had by no means skilled the period of Nigeria’s in depth navy rule, the COAS mentioned the Nigerian Military was not able to lose the “new status” it has painstakingly constructed prior to now 25 years by truncating the nation’s democratic rule.
Describing the latest nationwide starvation protest or #EndBadgovernance InNigeria protest as an eye-opener, the COAS mentioned a lesson to remove was that meals insecurity and starvation within the nation might snowball into a significant disaster.
He mentioned, “One other pertinent situation that got here up through the latest protest is the decision for undemocratic intervention in governance by the Armed Forces of Nigeria. Though one can say this was coming from younger Nigerians who by no means skilled the period of Nigeria’s in depth navy rule and the concerted wrestle by heroes and heroines of our present democratic dispensation to get the Nation on its present path, because the Chief of Military Workers, my easy response to the decision is, ‘Thanks, however no thanks!’
“The Nigerian Military won’t enable itself for use to undemocratically sail some pursuits to energy. Because the service that obtained probably the most picture bashing as a fallout of earlier navy interventions in Nigeria, the Nigerian Military will not be poised to lose the brand new status it has painstakingly constructed prior to now 25 years, safe and united.”
Lagbaja mentioned that following the lesson taken from the latest starvation protest, the Armed Forces wouldn’t solely deal with bodily safety and the defence of the nation however would additionally take note of meals and social safety points.
He mentioned although the scenario that led to the protest appeared to have settled, the Nigerian Military understood that the problem of meals safety was among the many elements that led to the protest, pledging the Military’s resolve to wade in by the evaluate of its agricultural coverage.
He mentioned the Nigerian Military troops presently present safety cowl for farmers in important farming communities within the North-East, North-West, and North Central zones in order to forestall the devastating penalties of stopping meals manufacturing in these areas on the complete nation’s meals provide chain.
“The Nigerian Military will, within the coming days, evaluate its agricultural coverage to higher place the Nigerian Military Farms and Ranches Restricted to considerably enhance crop manufacturing in order that the Military can launch grains into the market at a extremely subsidised fee in assist of presidency efforts.
“Moreover, the Military Headquarters is reviewing some proposals for partnerships with ministries, departments, and companies of presidency and respected personal organisations on how finest to collaborate to resolve meals disaster within the nation,” the COAS acknowledged.
Lagbaja famous that the Nigerian Military and its sister companies had continued to obtain assist from the federal government at each the nationwide and sub-national ranges, as proven within the latest buy of two BELL UH-1 Huey helicopters outfitted with superior sensors and enablers to conduct a spread of missions, together with reconnaissance, surveillance, logistics, and medical evacuation, amongst different features for the Nigerian Military.
He disclosed that the Nigerian Military had acquired different fight enablers, resembling Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Automobiles, rifles, and ammunition, to strengthen their operations and safety throughout the nation, noting that the large strides the Military had made to this point weren’t unconnected with the cooperations of sister safety companies, nationwide and sub-national governments.
The COAS confused that the welfare of widows and relations of fallen heroes remained on the right track.
The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, who declared the convention open, expressed happiness that the convention was held in Akwa Ibom and counseled the COAS for the “purposeful path he has given to Nigerian Military in the direction of assembly its constitutional duty,” noting that the Military was continuously innovating, deepening its competence and professionalism.
Eno, subsequently, pledged the state authorities’s readiness to lend all vital assist to allow the institution of the proposed Military base within the state in addition to different logistics.