By Gabriel Elozino
Minister of Defence, MajorGen. Bashir Magashi (retd), has called for a review in the operations of the Nigerian security architecture to enable it defeat current challenges facing the country. Magashi made the call at the 2022 Defence Retreat with the theme “Shaping the Armed Forces of Nigeria for Current and Future Security Challenges’’ held in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The minister who was the special guest of honour at the event, said the review has become in view of the Federal Government’s huge investment on military equipment, adding that there was still a lot to be done in spite of the successes recorded so far.
He also called for a review of the armed forces laws to ensure that they were in tandem with prevailing realities.
He said, “The Ministry of Defence will continue to provide administrative support and place premium on defence procurements.
“We look forward to deliberations that will produce implementable solutions to the myriads of security challenges facing the nation.”
In his remarks, Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, called on the military authorities to prioritise the welfare of officers and men of the armed forces to motivate them in the fight against insurgency and other violent crimes in the country. He said that the armed forces may possess sophisticated weapons but that without a motivated personnel, they would not achieve desired result.
“As we try to evolve ways in tackling multifaceted security challenges in our nation, another matter requiring priority attention is the welfare of our soldiers at the frontlines.
“It is my considered view that we can have all the sophisticated weaponry and excellent logistics but without motivated and satisfied personnel all our efforts will come to naught.
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“It is, therefore, imperative that we place premium on their welfare so that they will discharge their duties with utmost pride and enthusiasm. “In the same vein, honouring soldiers who die in the battlefront is the most powerful message we can send about serving our country sacrificially.
“It has the potential to ignite the fire of patriotism in our people and become an inspiration for many others to want to wear the uniform with pride and assurance,” he said.
