The Chief of Defence Staff Major General Olufemi Oluyede has called for the restructuring and strengthening of the Nigeria Police Force, saying it is crucial to national security and the effective management of internal crises.
He explained that many internal security responsibilities currently undertaken by the military should ordinarily fall under the jurisdiction of the police.
Empowering the Nigeria Police, he said, would enable the military to focus on its core constitutional mandate of defending the country against external aggression.
The Defence Chief also identified inadequate resources and limited operational enablers as major challenges to the effective prosecution of the war against insurgency and emerging security threats.
According to him, insufficient funding and logistics have continued to hinder the full realization of the armed forces objectives in various theatres of operation.
He emphasized the urgent need for Nigeria to develop its domestic capacity to produce military equipment, describing the nation’s heavy dependence on foreign procurement as costly and unsustainable.
Strengthening local production, he added, would enhance self reliance and ensure timely access to critical defence materials.
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The Defence Chief noted that modern warfare now includes cyber warfare, cybercrime, and information warfare, stressing the importance of strengthening national capacity to combat misinformation and disinformation capable of undermining Nigeria’s security efforts.
He stated that during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff, he made the welfare and well-being of officers, soldiers, and their families a top priority, acknowledging that morale and motivation are vital to operational effectiveness.
Reaffirming his commitment to the defence and security of the nation, the Defence Chief pledged to continue upholding the trust and confidence reposed in him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He therefore urged Nigerians to accord soldiers the respect, recognition, and support they deserve, adding that improved welfare, equipment, and motivation for personnel will translate into stronger national security outcomes.
While describing his tenure as both challenging and rewarding, the Defence Chief said measurable progress has been achieved despite constraints emphasising that much more can still be done.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
