Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Military Won't Be Used to Truncate Democratic Governance - Lagbaja

POSTED ON August 28, 2024 •   Breaking News      BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara •   VIEWS 57
Nigeria Army

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, on Tuesday, restated that the military would not allow itself to be used by some interest groups to truncate democratic governance in the country.

Lagbaja spoke in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, during the opening ceremony of the COAS Combined 2nd and 3rd Quarters Conference on Tuesday.

While noting that such a call for a military takeover was coming from young Nigerians, who had never experienced the era of Nigeria’s extensive military rule, the COAS said the Nigerian Army was not ready to lose the “new prestige”  it had painstakingly built in the past 25 years by truncating the nation’s democratic rule.

Describing the recent nationwide hunger protest or #EndBadgovernance in Nigeria protest as an eye-opener, the COAS said a lesson to take away was that food insecurity and hunger in the country could snowball into a major crisis.

He said, “Another pertinent issue that came up during the recent protest is the call for undemocratic intervention in governance by the Armed Forces of Nigeria. 

"Although one can say this was coming from young Nigerians who never experienced the era of Nigeria’s extensive military rule and the concerted struggle by heroes and heroines of our current democratic dispensation to get the Nation on its current path, as the Chief of Army Staff, my simple response to the call is, ‘Thanks, but no thanks!’

“The Nigerian Army will not allow itself to be used to undemocratically sail some interests to power. As the service that received the most image bashing as a fallout of previous military interventions in Nigeria, the Nigerian Army is not poised to lose the new prestige it has painstakingly built in the past 25 years, secure and united.”

Lagbaja said that following the lesson taken from the recent hunger protest, the Armed Forces would not only focus on physical security and the defence of the nation but would also pay attention to food and social security issues.

He said though the situation that led to the protest seemed to have settled, the Nigerian Army understood that the issue of food insecurity was among the factors that led to the protest, pledging the Army’s resolve to wade in through the review of its agricultural policy.

He said the Nigerian Army troops currently provide security cover for farmers in critical farming communities in the North-East, North-West, and North Central zones so as to prevent the devastating consequences of stopping food production in those regions on the entire country’s food supply chain.

The COAS stated, “The Nigerian Army will, in the coming days, review its agricultural policy to better position the Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Limited to significantly boost crop production so that the Army can release grains into the market at a highly subsidised rate in support of government efforts.

“Furthermore, the Army Headquarters is reviewing some proposals for partnerships with ministries, departments, and agencies of government and reputable private organisations on how best to collaborate to resolve food crisis in the country.”

Lagbaja noted that the Nigerian Army and its sister services had continued to receive support from the government at both the national and sub-national levels, as shown in the recent purchase of two BELL UH-1 Huey helicopters equipped with advanced sensors and enablers to conduct a range of missions, including reconnaissance, surveillance, logistics, and medical evacuation, among other functions for the Nigerian Army.

He disclosed that the Nigerian Army had acquired other combat enablers, such as Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles, rifles, and ammunition, to strengthen their operations and security across the country.

He noted that the giant strides the Army had made so far were not unconnected with the cooperations of sister security agencies, national and sub-national governments.

The COAS stressed that the welfare of widows and family members of fallen heroes remained on course.

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, who declared the conference open, expressed happiness that the conference was held in Akwa Ibom and commended the COAS for the  “purposeful direction he has given Nigerian Army towards meeting its constitutional responsibility.

Eno noted that the Army was constantly innovating, deepening its competence and professionalism.

He, therefore, pledged the state government’s readiness to lend all necessary support to enable the establishment of the proposed Army base in the state as well as other logistics.

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Indianapolis Woman Dies in I-65 Accident Near Columbus After Return from Kentucky Event
BY ROCKETPARROT.com staff November 3, 2024 0

COLUMBUS, Ind. — A tragic accident claimed the life of Indianapolis resident Omotope G. Oyedir...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Senate confirms seven ministerial nominees
BY Benedicta Bassey October 31, 2024 0

The Senate has screened and confirmed seven ministerial nominees appointed by President Bola Ahmed T...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
US poll: Court orders Elon Musk to defend $1m election giveaway
BY Benedicta Bassey October 31, 2024 0

Elon Musk has been ordered to appear in court on Thursday following a lawsuit concerning $1 million...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Britain confirms first case of Mpox- Report
BY Benedicta Bassey October 31, 2024 0

The United Kingdom has confirmed its first case of the new mpox variant, known as clade Ib, the coun...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Reps summons Environment Ministry, others over flood readiness
BY Benedicta Bassey October 31, 2024 0

The House of Representatives on Thursday summoned the Federal Ministry of Environment, the National...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Court jails UNIPORT final-year student over internet fraud
BY Benedicta Bassey October 31, 2024 0

University of Port Harcourt(UNIPORT) final-year student, Henry Nathaniel Ekanem has been jailed over...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
National security: Reps urge FG to withdraw airstrip licences from Canaanland, others
BY Benedicta Bassey October 31, 2024 0

The House of Representatives on Thursday has urged the Federal Government to withdraw airstrip licen...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Nigeria pledges to tackle oil spills, gas flaring in Niger Delta
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara October 31, 2024 0

The Federal Government, in collaboration with the Bayelsa State Government, has reaffirmed commitmen...

OUR CHANNELS:

OTHER ARTICLES ::

5th November, 2024
Economic Showdown: Atiku's Critique vs. Tinubu's Policies A Leadership Divide
BY ROCKETPARROT.com staff November 5, 2024 0

In a recent exchange highlighting the growing tensions in Nigeria's political landscape, former Vice...


Indianapolis Woman Dies in I-65 Accident Near Columbus After Return from Kentucky Event
BY ROCKETPARROT.com staff November 5, 2024 0

COLUMBUS, Ind. — A tragic accident claimed the life of Indianapolis resident Omotope G. Oyedir...


Adriano's Decline: From Football Glory to Favela Streets
BY ROCKETPARROT.com staff November 5, 2024 0

Health concerns arise as a recent video surfaces showing Adriano, the former Inter Milan and Brazil...


Proposed tax reform bills not against North, says Presidency
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 5, 2024 0

The Presidency has said contrary to job loss fears and perceived marginalisation of the North, the t...


Kaduna approves N72,000 minimum wage
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 5, 2024 0

The Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has approved a new minimum wage of N72,000 for civil servants i...


Man Utd seal deal with Amorim as new manager — Report
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 5, 2024 0

Manchester United has finalised an agreement with Sporting Lisbon to appoint 39-year-old Ruben Amori...


Nile Group collaborates with Ooni of Ife to manage his theaters
BY Ebiakuboere England November 5, 2024 0

His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, and Nile Cinemas have inked a historic management contract fo...


Bruno Mars tops Spotify monthly listeners record
BY Ebiakuboere England November 5, 2024 0

Grammy-winning singer Bruno Mars has broken the previous record with 120,862,858 monthly Spotify lis...


South Africa to strip Chidimma Adetshina of ID documents
BY Ebiakuboere England November 5, 2024 0

Nigerian-South African Model Chidimma Adetshina faces the possibility of losing her national documen...


Senate confirms seven ministerial nominees
BY Benedicta Bassey November 5, 2024 0

The Senate has screened and confirmed seven ministerial nominees appointed by President Bola Ahmed T...


Menu