Yahaya: Military Working Hard to Make May 29 Flagship of Army’s Parades

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, yesterday, declared that the Nigerian military was prepared to ensure a successful hand over of power by May 29, 2023, adding that the army was working hard to ensure that the event turned out as flagship of Nigerian Army parades.

Yahaya said the army possessed the requisite capacity and moral strength to deliver on its constitutional mandate, stressing that there was no legal task beyond the Nigerian Army to achieve.

Yahaya, who spoke at the closing ceremony of the Third Quarter Chief of Army Staff Conference in Abuja, said the army was on course towards self-sufficiency in defence production.

The army chief, who commended troops for their commitment and sacrifices across theatres of operations and the recently concluded general election, charged the soldiers to sustain the tempo in the defence of the nation.

He also urged commanders to identify, harness and encourage personnel with research potentials to put in more efforts to enhance research and development to curb contemporary challenges.

“I have no doubt that we are on course towards achieving self-sufficiency in defence production. I’m glad that the Nigerian Army research and development has in recent times received renewed push to contribute towards addressing our needs and contemporary challenges.

“I must also remark that we have capacity and moral strength to deliver on our constitutional mandate. We should, therefore, always be reminded that we are men of honour and we should perform our duty with courage and complete loyalty.”

Commenting on the army’s preparation towards May 29 handing and taking over parade, Yahaya said, “We must, therefore, put all hands on deck to ensure that the event turns out as flagship of Nigerian Army parades.”

He added that it was the collective efforts of the Nigerian Army personnel that led to operational successes being recorded across the theatres of operations and charged them to consolidate such efforts in order to sustain the achievements and totally eradicate terrorism and other nefarious activities from the country.

“As command responsibility, all commanders should always think ‘two down’ and ensure thorough supervision and guidance. As command responsibility, relevant commanders at various levels must monitor closely the behaviour of personnel deployed for all operations and appropriately reward and sanction personnel as necessary,” he said.

He also charged commanders to awaken the consciousness of adherence to basic tenets of tactics and field craft.

“You must ensure thorough and detailed briefings and debriefing of troops before and after operations. You must continue to contain all the equipment under your commands and device measures for safe keeping and accounting of all arms and ammunition. Commanding officers must take full responsibility for their units and always apply their initiatives in taking charge of their units,” he said.