By Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu
Gentlemen of the press, you are welcome to this all important Press Briefing to herald the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference 2022. In our resolve to keep you abreast of the activities and programmes of the Nigerian Army (NA), today, I will through this Press Briefing intimate you on the activities lined up for the forthcoming Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference 2022 with the theme: “Building a Professional Nigerian Army for the 21st Century Security Environment”.The event is expected to commence from 4 December and last till 10 December 2022 at the International Conference Centre, Kasarawa, Sokoto State.
Customarily, the COAS Annual Conference will offer an avenue for reappraisal of the administrative affairs of the Nigerian Army, evaluate and comprehensively review ongoing operational engagements of the NA in all theatres of operations across the six geo-political zones within the year, among other key agenda. This will provide the NA an in-depth insight to take far reaching decisions that will be result oriented towards achieving its set objective of addressing the multifaceted security challenges in the country. The conference would also create an opportunity for the COAS to have a face to face interaction with all the General officers Commanding, field commanders and other senior officers to provide possible guidance on enhancing NA activities and operations.
Expectedly, Sunday 4 December 2022, will witness the arrival and registration of participants, while the conference will be declared open on Monday 5 December, 2022.The opening ceremony will feature a lecture titled “Proliferation of Regional/State Security Outfits in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects” by Gen Martin Luther Agwai (retired), former Chief of Defence Staff.
On 6 December 2022, there shall be commissioning of various Nigerian Army Civil Military Cooperation projects in various communities in Sokoto State. Furthermore, the conference will review decisions taken at the Chief of Army Staff third quarter conference, while series of briefs and other updates bothering on various activities of the NA will be presented and deliberated upon from 7 to 8 December. The NA will also seize the opportunity to recognize and appreciate eminent Nigerians who have in no small measure supported the NA. On 9 December, the event will be wrapped up with a closing remark by the COAS Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya CFR.
Suffice to say that, the NA has over the years demonstrated its capacity and zeal in defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty against external aggression and giving aid to civil authority in mitigating internal security challenges in the country. This is further demonstrated in the purposeful leadership drive of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya (CFR) whose efforts have tremendously enhanced the capacity and dexterity of troops in the onslaughts against terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements in the country.
With his transformational and selfless leadership drive, troops have continued to decimate Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in the North East, leading to the obliteration of terrorists high profile commanders, foot soldiers and their hideouts. This has led to mass surrendering of terrorists and their family members in droves. Troops have also maintained this feat, through their operational engagements in other theatres of operations in other parts of the country, with significant successes recorded. These feats would not have been achieved without the support and collaboration of law abiding Nigerians, sister services and other security agencies, the political leadership and the international community.
Gentlemen, I must acknowledge that the fluidity of the threat situation requires dynamism to continually review our operational strategies. Hence, this conference offers a veritable platform to deliberate on ways and means through which the NA would continue to enhance national security. I, therefore, reiterate the commitment and resolve of NA troops to continue to discharge their duties professionally and proficiently within its constitutional mandate. We will also be resolute in upholding our values of courage, professionalism, sacrifice, respect, discipline and unflinching loyalty to duly constituted authority.
On this premise, I want to on behalf of the COAS Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya CFR appreciate the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari and indeed all Nigerians for their untiring support to the NA towards the pursuit of the restoration of peace and security to our great nation, Nigeria. Gentlemen of the Press, I acknowledged your partnership and continued cooperation with the NA in our quest to return peace to our dear Country. Your Professionalism in carrying out your tasks as well as unbiased reportage has significantly enhanced our operations, Collectively, we shall actualize the desired peace.
Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu is the Director, Army Public Relations and text was a presentation on the occasion of the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference (COAS) 2022