Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, says the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has recalled and included experienced retired personnel of the Army, navy and Air Force in an elite team of experts to evaluate the changing security conditions in the country and provide solutions.
General Irabor, who spoke at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, Plateau State to participants of Senior Executive Course 43/2021, said the move was part of a policy to combat specific security situations such as kidnapping, banditry and secessionist activities among other security threats.
In his lecture titled ‘Implementation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria Joint Defence Doctrine and national security in Nigeria: issues and challenges,’ the CDS expressed optimism that implementation of a Joint Defence Doctrine (JDD) is a sure way to victory over insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violent crimes bedevilling Nigeria.
The CDS insisted that the adoption and implementation of such a strategy would not only enhance the capability and efficiency of the Armed Forces to tackle insecurity but will also cement synergy, goodwill and productive professional relationship among Armed Forces members.
He explained that the JDD “is designed to strengthen its implementation, in order to enhance synergy for effective national security.”
Irabor said: “JDD is crafted to foster operational jointness and synergy; thus, its effective implementation will enhance national security. Accordingly, I will proffer some strategies that will mitigate the challenges of implementing the AFN JDD.
“These strategies include enactment of a robust legal framework, review of the JDD 2017 and formulation of situational security policy, institutionalising Defence Logistics Management Board (DLMB) and pooling of specialised joint training institutions. Others include capability enhancement for the AFN and the promotion of values that enhance national orientation.”
The CDS explained that the formulation of a Situational Security Policy on specific security situations such as kidnapping, banditry and secessionist activities among other security threats bedevilling the nation is receiving due attention.
Consequently, he said, “the DHQ has assembled a strategic team made up of retired and serving personnel who will evaluate the ever-changing conditions in the polity and their associated security threats with a view to proffering policies and strategies to adequately address them.
“It is envisaged that formulation of the Situational Security Policy will give the desired impetus to the JDD and improve its implementation for enhanced national security.”
According to him, curbing the security challenges is onerous and requires effective policy and programme implementation.
He added that “accordingly, the AFN is engaged in various Internal Security Operations (ISOs) in various parts of the country such as Op Delta Safe, Awatse, Whirl Stroke and Safe Haven. Others are Op Hadarin Daji, Hadin Kai, Whirl Punch and Udoka, in addition to external multinational and Peace Support Operations (PSOs). These engagements have contributed to Nigeria’s relative stability and national security and are being guided by the JDD amongst other operating documents.”
Irabor explained that “the application of jointness helped to maximise the unique capabilities of each of the Services. In these operations, the synergy of efforts which culminated in joint combat power produced more effect than if each Service had been singly employed against the adversary.”
According to him, “joint operations cost less in men and material. Cost-saving is achieved by cutting duplication of efforts through efficient integration of Service capabilities for preparing and accomplishing assigned missions at all levels of warfare and in Military Operations other than War (MOOTW)
“The application of jointness helped to maximise the unique capabilities of each of the Services. In these operations, the synergy of efforts which culminated in joint combat power produced more effect than if each Service had been singly employed against the adversary.”