The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, on Wednesday disclosed that innovative strategies will be deployed to combat terrorism, banditry, and other forms of violent extremism in the country.
Besides, Oluyede said efforts would also be made to improve on the welfare of the soldiers.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the COAS Annual Conference held in Abuja, Oluyede said: “I am delighted to state that the past three days have been refreshing and rewarding because we have reflected as a family on issues concerning the administration, training, and operations of the Nigerian Army.
“In particular, we deliberated extensively on innovative strategies to confront and ultimately defeat terrorism, barbarism, separatist agitations, and other violent extremism that threaten the peace and security of our dear country, Nigeria.
“As a follow-up to our deliberations, the Nigerian Army will, in the coming months, invest more in modern technology to aid in training and ultimately fight these wars.
“Since training directly influences official actions, the Army headquarters will promote realistic and focused training throughout the force and conduct a thorough review of the Army’s specialized training and operations to achieve the desired victory.
“To this end, I have directed that our best equipment be posted to our training schools to drive our professional military education and produce well-trained personnel with the requisite skill sets to meet the demands of the current and future operations.”
On improving soldiers’ welfare, Oluyede emphasized the need for improved accommodation facilities and directed the speedy completion of ongoing projects.
He said, “In line with my common philosophies, it is essential to consolidate the transformation of the Nigerian Army towards becoming a well-motivated and combat-ready force that can effectively operate within a joint and multi-agency environment.
“I have directed that all ongoing office and residential accommodation projects in the Nigerian Army be completed speedily and allocated to deserving personnel. While new ones are to be initiated to alleviate the shortfall, I look forward to establishing a soldier-first culture across the force by ensuring proper attention is paid to soldiers’ welfare, acknowledging their crucial role as the foundation of the Nigerian Army’s strength, operational readiness, and mission success.”
