Lagbaja: Army to Adopt Technology, Devt Support  to Enhance Nigeria’s Security

•Francophone nationals are security threat, says immigration

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin and Fidelis David in Akure

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has said the Nigerian Army  would  enhance  conversations  between top officers and retired generals on ways to adopt technology through research and development support  to enhance the security measures of the country.

At the. Same. Time, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), has said illegal immigrants mostly Francophone nationals, were behind most of the criminal activities being perpetrated in the country.

Lagbaja stated this yesterday while delivering speech at the Nigeria Army Combat Support Arms Training (COSAT) week at the International Culture and Event Centre (The Dome), Akure, themed: Leveraging Local Indigenous Technology to Produce Innovative Solutions for Combat Support Arms to Enhance NA Operation in a Joint Environment.

The Army Chief, who said the Nigerian Army remained committed to upholding the tenets of the Nigerian Constitution, stressed that the role of the army in the protection of the nascent democracy could not be over emphasised.

While noting that the army was restrategising to brainstorm on contemporary security challenges, improve capability of various support element to combat insurgency  bedeviling the country, he said the gathering would enhance  conversations  between top officers and retired generals on the matter.

“The critical place (importance) of COSAT has consistently being on the rise since the Nigeria civil war. We have continued to encourage professionalism and reposition the unit. Today’s gathering which brings about most of our renowned brains to chart a new way forward as warfare is constantly evolving, ” he said.

Furthering. discussions on the sidelines, Lagbaja said the Nigerian Army, being a professional and dynamic force was constantly exploring avenue to improve efficiency and effective delivery of security in every theatre of operation.

Meanwhile, the Kwara State Comptroller of NIS, Mr. Aminu Shamsuddin, said the country was surrounded by francophone countries, whose nationals desperately loved to stay in Nigeria.

Speaking at the 60th anniversary of the Service, he said the immigrants were desperate to enter Nigeria due to socio-economic hardship in their countries, adding that NIS had to take extra measures to scrutinise and check every immigrant before entry.

“These people think Nigeria is a paradise and truly, we are the mother of Africa. They always struggle to be part of us and are ready to spend huge sum of money to obtain Nigeria passport. They also get married to Nigerians in their bid to be Nigerians, which is why we painstakingly check every immigrant. We have undergone training and can easily ascertain if someone is a Nigerian or not,” he said.