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The Senate announced on Wednesday that it had opened an investigation into the use by the Nigerian military of its 2019, 2020 and 2021 budgets.
The Chairman of the Senate Army Committee, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, made the disclosure when he led the members of the Committee on Oversight of the 6th Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt.
Ndume said the investigation would allow the committee to properly allocate the army's budget in 2022.
According to him, the inspection of the projects in the barracks and the interaction with the hierarchy of the army would allow the commission to make adjustments in the 2022 budget bill.
“This will allow the committee to know the areas that require adjustments, additions and attention, especially now that the 2022 budget is before the National Assembly.
“This oversight function will allow us to allocate what the military will achieve in 2022 by focusing on the security challenges we face across the country,” he said.
Ndume said any nation's strength is determined by its military and paramilitary agencies, noting that the government will continue to help them succeed.
He noted that the military is currently overloaded due to its engagement on multiple fronts across the country.
"We congratulate the military and encourage the new guard (heads of service) to continue their good work while respecting the rules of engagement," he added.
The senator thanked the Chief of Staff of the Army (COAS), the Lieutenant General. Farouk Yahaya, for boosting the morale of the troops and expressing his condolences to the 6th Division for the death of the Major-General. Olu Irefin.
The Commanding General Officer (GOC), 6th Division of the Nigerian Army, Major-General. Sani Mohammed, commended the committee for its efforts to address the constraints of the military.
“We are pleased that most of the interventions have been carried out, particularly in the area of future equipment and efforts to improve army barracks.
"We also appreciate the donation of various types of operational vehicles to the military as SFOC has informed us that many more are to come," he said.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives said on Wednesday that it would consider better budget allocation for the Nigerian Navy in the 2022 Appropriation Bill.
The Chairman of the House Navy Committee, Representative Yusuf Gadji, gave assurances that he was leading the other members of the Nigerian Navy Ship's (NNS) Pathfinder Project Inspection Committee in Port Harcourt.
According to him, the Navy and NNS Pathfinder had recorded significant achievements in executing projects in its formations and units as budgeted in FY2020.
“We are under surveillance for feedback from the navies we oversee, to enable us to address concerns and seek ways to improve their operations.
“From our inspection of the NNS Pathfinder base, we can say that they are doing a good job in the area of contract enforcement.
“We understand the challenges from this base, but we will only see the budgeting of the main projects which are more important due to the scarce resources available,” he said.
Gadji said the National Assembly is currently looking for ways to make the country's armed forces self-sufficient in the area of funding.
“To this end, we have two bills before the National Assembly, including the Armed Forces Support Fund and the Maritime Security Trust Fund.
"Once adopted, these bills will go a long way to solving the problems related to the financing of our army," he said.
In a presentation, NNS Pathfinder commander Commodore Abdullahi Ahmed said the base destroyed hundreds of illegal refineries, bunkering sites and made numerous arrests in 2021 alone.
He said the successes have been recorded with the deployment of swamp buggy machines that completely crush illegal refineries, impossible for them to be reactivated.
Source: NAN
The Chief of Staff of the Army (COAS), Lieutenant-General. Faruk Yahaya, expressed the readiness of the Nigerian military to cooperate with the Implementation and Advisory Committee on the Reform of the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense.
Yahaya gave the assurance when the committee members led.-Gen. Abel Akale, visited the army headquarters on Wednesday in Ábuja.
Akale represented the committee chairman and former army chief of staff, the retired major-general. Alwali Kazeem.
SFOC said army headquarters trusted the committee to review its composition and the caliber of committee members.
He said the military was committed to making its contribution if needed, adding that the service had a good representative on the committee.
According to him, the army can expect no less from a committee made up of former army chiefs of staff and former main staff officers, commanding general officers, commanders and commanders and other retired senior officers.
He commended the members of the committee for their continued support to the armed forces and the Nigerian army in particular.
Earlier, the representative of the chairman of the committee said that the implementation and advisory committee was inaugurated recently following the approval of the recommendations of the Buhari reform committee.
He said that the visit to the defense and service headquarters was aimed at ensuring that the implementation of reforms was carried out transparently across the services and the ministry.
Akale revealed that the committee expected to receive comments from various departments, adding that implementation would require everyone's action.
He congratulated the head of the army for his responsiveness to the committee and the representative of the Nigerian army on the committee for his contribution so far.
According to him, the aim and the goal is for the reform to be for the good of the country and the armed forces as a whole to make them better for the nation.
"I'm sure a lot of you maybe have a thing about the other about how we've operated in the recent past what might not be the best and if we have to look at the best. , we must accompany you.
“We need your input to help implement the recommendations.
“This is basically why we are here today,” he said.
The Nigerian Press Agency recalls that the Minister of Defense, the retired Major General. Bashir Magashi on September 28 inaugurated a 24-man Implementation Advisory Committee to lead the implementation of the recommendations of the Reform Committee on Armed Forces Reforms.
Among other things, the committee was to consider the recommendations of the reform committee report and rank them in immediate, short, medium and long terms, as appropriate.
Source: NAN
Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi said the Nigerian military's anti-banditry operations have increasingly enabled farmers in the state to access their farms without threats.
Army Public Relations Director Onyema Nwachukwu in a statement said the governor made the observation when he received Army Chief of Staff COAS Faruk Yahaya on Tuesday in Birnin-Kebbi.
Bagudu said farmers in Danko Wassagu, in the south of the state, have returned to their farming occupation, urging the military to support operations and bring lasting peace to the state and Nigeria.
He praised the Nigerian military for providing assistance to the civilian authority at a critical time when non-state actors who created insecurity in society were protected by unpatriotic citizens.
Bagudu urged the military to continue working in synergy with other security agencies and stakeholders to rid the northwestern part of the country of banditry.
He pledged the state government's commitment to work with the Nigerian military and other security agencies to tackle insecurity in the state.
The governor presented to SFOC reconfigured operational vehicles built by the state government.
He said operational vehicles have been reconfigured under the supervision of Deputy Governor Samaila Dabai to provide operational platforms for troops.
He assured SFOC that the vehicles would soon be handed over to the troops for deployment.
SFOC commended the state government and the people of Kebbi for their support for the Nigerian military.
Yahaya added that renewed measures would be taken to address security challenges affecting the state while calling on the government to raise awareness of the danger of colluding with bandits to sow panic in their communities.
He also noted that all hands must be on the bridge to resolutely face the prevailing security situation.
At the palace of the Emir of Gwandu, Muhammadu Bashar, COAS called on traditional leaders to guide the conduct of members of their communities against tacit support for bandits.
He added that cooperation with the troops would add value to the relentless efforts of security agents to restore law and order in the geopolitical zone in the northwest of the country.
In response, the emir commended SFOC for embarking on an operational tour of formations and units to provide guidance and advice on how to overcome the security challenges facing the country.
During the operational visit of the 1st Battalion to Birnin Kebbi, COAS urged the troops to remain focused and professional in the conduct of each operation.
He assured them of the adequate supply of more and modern equipment to enable them to carry out their mandate effectively.
NOPE
major-general. Abraham Dusu, commander of the Nigerian army artillery school, who died at the age of 54 on September 26 in Kachia, Kaduna state, was hired in Abuja by the Nigerian army on Friday for Mother Earth.
The late Dusu, a member of the 37th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defense Academy, was buried at the Cemetery of the Guards Brigade, Lungi Barrack, after a funeral service at All Saint (Protestant) Church in Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja .
Speaking at the ceremony, Army Chief of Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General. Faruk Yahaya, described the late general as a complete gentleman, a professional soldier, a loving husband and a good family man, who did his best in the service of the nation.
Mr. Yahaya said that Dusu's disappearance was a great loss to the armed forces, the Nigerian military and the nation in general.
He said that death is an inevitable end for everyone, that only God can determine when and how it will happen.
SFOC said the funeral of his colleague and classmate is a call for all to reflect on life and strive to be better human beings while living.
He urged all to always aspire to live for humanity and society, bearing in mind that one day everyone would return to their creator.
"We should learn from this incident and many others that we have witnessed to individually and collectively make efforts to be better through our commitment to our jobs and our service to humanity," he said. .
Mr. Yahaya assured the family of the deceased officer of the military's continued support for them.
During the funeral service, Deputy Director of Chaplaincy Services (Protestant) Major (Rev.) Babatunde Adegoke preached on the theme "Mistaken Identity," warning that humans have forgotten their true identity which is dust. and decided to live on Identity Borrowed from titles and status.
He said the personality people put on is a borrowed identity and urged everyone to recognize that "we will all return to the dust from which we came".
The late Dusu's widow, Cynthia Dusu, paid tribute to her late husband, describing the late general as a loving, caring and committed man to his work and his family.
The widow, who calls her late husband "Baba and Sunbeam," said their two-decade marriage has grown through ticking to produce fond memories.
Reading the funeral oratory, the commander of the artillery corps, the major-general. Tari-Timiye Gagariga, said the late general was appointed a regular fighter in 1990 at the rank of second lieutenant with seniority from September 27, 1985.
Mr Gagariga said the officer was promoted to the rank of major general in September 2019 and died while serving as the commander of the Artillery School.
NOPE
By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Chief of Staff of the Army (COAS), Lieutenant-General. Farouk Yahaya, says it is necessary to resuscitate the partnership between the Nigerian army and the Russian defense.
Yahaya said this when Russian Ambassador to Nigeria Alexey Shebarshin paid him a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja on Thursday.
He said Nigeria and Russia have been cooperating for decades, adding that some of the military equipment used by the Nigerian military has been purchased from Russia.
According to him, we will take advantage of the envoy's visit to explore new areas.
He listed some of the areas to include Nigerian army aviation, artillery equipment, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
According to him, the army is particularly interested in drones in order to have a longer surveillance capacity to facilitate counterinsurgency operations.
“We have a lot of demands and we know we can get support from Russia.
“We will discuss further and see the areas where we can cooperate,” he said.
Earlier, the Russian ambassador to Nigeria said that the Russian defense had made many inroads in the field of war equipment.
The ambassador said his country could be of great importance to Nigeria in continuing the ongoing counterinsurgency operations.
According to him, Nigeria occupies a very important position in Africa, because the peace and stability of the country are of paramount interest to Russia.
He said Nigeria must do everything to resist the onslaught of terrorists and bandits in order to be able to ensure stability and development, adding that any nation that wants peace must do whatever it takes.
“We are here today because we know that the Nigerian military today is the basis of stability in your country and that peace is absolutely necessary to solve the development problems in your country.
“Our idea is that Nigeria is a point of central and vital importance in Africa and that the stability and development of your country will stabilize the African continent.
“We think it's in our best interest because we have many multinational companies in different countries,” he said.
Source: NAN
By Oladapo Udom
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, has called for more synergy among security agencies to tackle the insecurity in the country.
Yahaya made the call while addressing military personnel at Bonny Camp, Victoria Island, Lagos State during his maiden visit to 81 Division, Nigerian Army in Lagos on Monday.
The COAS said that no single agency could tackle the level of insecurity in the country, appealing to military personnel to join hands to fight insurgency.
“The enemy we are facing in terms of security challenges are within; they interact with the community, that is why we must remain professional and vigilant.
“Lagos is cosmopolitan and a lot of people are here, it is a city with a lot of people, the more reason you should remain at alert and vigilant.
“Therefore, we must continue to work in synergy with other services and other agencies because what we do not see, another element will see,”he said.
The COAS said that each agency has its own skill and competency that they could bring to the table to ensure success in the fight against insecurity.
“I appreciate you for the job you are doing and urge you not to rest on your oars, but improve on our operations, conduct and activities.
“I also urge you to continue to be professional soldiers working in harmony with other agencies and relating well with other law abiding citizens who are doing their jobs well,”he said.
Yahaya said that all organisations, including the military have their area of challenges, but the important thing is to identify these challenges and continue to work and improve on them.
“I will personally look into areas of challenges, such as improving welfare, renovating and building more accommodation for our officers, providing generators and vehicles for logisitics, among others,” he said.
The Army boss challenged senior officers to step up their game because they have the responsibility of bringing up the Junior officers through good example and leadership.
“You have to be on time before you check somebody for late coming, you have to be well dressed before you can check somebody for not being well dressed.
“I also urge you all to be your neighbours keeper and always check up on one another to see how you can be of assistance to them and their family,”he said.
The COAS advised officers to study and prove themselves in every area, including physical exercises to be eligible for promotion.
“There are limited space at the top as you rise in rank that is why everybody cannot be promoted at once.
“That is why in a battalion, there is only one Lieutet Colonel because there is a selection process for promotion so it will be wrong to promote everybody at once.
“So, that is why you have to work hard, earn a place, meet the criteria for promotion and you will be promoted,”he said.
Yahaya advised officers against deserting the service because the Army had designed Operation Checkmate to arrest deserters and those who run away from the military among many other offences.
“In any case, this job is voluntarily and if anyone wants to leave you can do so, but there is procedure,”he said.
The COAS said he visited the Nigerian Army Ordice Corps in Epe to inspect the facility and also meet with the traditional rulers in charting a way forward to end insecurity.
“The Nigerian Army always seek for ways to strengthen relationship with host communities and that is why we have a department in the Nigerian Army Headquarters called Civil Military Affairs Department.
“The responsibility of this department is to enhance relationship with host communities and with other civil societies by providing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the community,”he said.
Yahaya said that the army often conduct quick impact projects in the communities specifically during the Nigerian Army Day Celebration where medical outreaches are carried out, giving out of gift items, among other things.
He said that the communities also provide knowledge and intelligence gathering of the sorroundings as well as information among other things that the army required.
Source: NAN
