From Usman Sani (Kaduna)
Federal Government and security agencies have been commended for initiating reforms geared towards combating emerging national security threats.
Commander, Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, Major General Osasogie Idowu Uzamere gave the commendation while declaring open, this year’s defence and security symposium for students of senior course forty-three held at the Armed forces Command and Staff College Jaji, Kaduna State.
The theme for this year’s symposium is “Standardization and Interoperability of equipment in the Armed forces of Nigeria”.
Major General Osasogie Idowu Uzamere who described the theme of the symposium as apt, said it is a reflection of ongoing transformation efforts in the Armed forces, with a view to repositioning defence and security agencies to tackle effectively, security challenges plaguing the country.
He maintained that the discourse on the theme would stimulate ideas that would further assist in repositioning the defence and security services for enhanced operational effectiveness, in furtherance of Nigeria’s national security.
The Commander commended the college for selecting the theme, which according to him, is a demonstration of the college’s contribution towards solving contemporary security challenges, and also turning the minds of vibrant officers to the tasks ahead of them in the field.
Major General Osasogie Uzamere charged the students to prepare their minds on the challenges they would be facing in the field after the course.
Earlier in his remarks, Commandant of the college, Air Vice Marshal Ebenezer Olayinka Alade explained that the symposium is aimed at generating ideas from critical and intuitive minds of students and discussants in order to assist the services find solutions to extant and emerging security challenges.
Represented by his deputy, Rear Admiral Patrick Nwatu, the Commandant noted that persistent security challenges being faced by the Armed forces of Nigeria in the mould of armed banditry, insurgency and terrorism compelled the need for further review of status quo, particularly in the area of standardization of equipment among the services.
The Commandant noted that in view of the importance the college attaches to the symposium, efforts were made to invite seasoned senior officers who are exposed and vastly experienced to serve as moderators and discussants.
Air Vice Marshal Ebenezer Alade pointed out that students are expected to continue to research, refine their works and present the executive summary of their findings to the Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs in June this year.