By Tom Okpe
The House of Representatives has called on the nation’s Service Chiefs to effectively collaborate with sister security agencies and ensure security threats in the country are completely neutralised that Nigerians can live in peace.
The House also called for setting up of full-fledged Defence Space Force to adequately handle potential threats from the cyber space and provide intelligence support to other services.
The House Ad-hoc Committee at the Screening of Service Chief Nominees made these demands on Monday during the exercise with the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj Gen Christopher Musa and Chief of Army Staff, Maj Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, who were later joined by the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Abubakar.
Speaking before the screening went into closed door meeting, Chairman of the Committee, Rep Babajimi Benson said the 10th House will provide necessary legislative framework to the current government in its quest to ensure Nigerians live in peace.
Babajimi, a former Chairman of the Committee on Defence, however said the House shall embark on rigorous oversight exercises, beginning from this screening, to ensure that the Armed Forces of Nigeria adhere strictly to the provisions of all Appropriation Acts.
“The world of security is dynamic and ever changing. New security threats are emerging across the globe. Today, wars are not only fought on the land, sea and air, but also in the cyberspace. Consequently, the art of warfare must therefore be a step ahead. This is why Nigeria must tap into, and harness the potential of having a Defence Space Force, like in the United States of America.
“The role of securing lives and property of Nigerians is the collective task for all arms of government. As a parliament, we are required to legislate for the good and peaceful governance of the country.
“This is a responsibility that the 10th House of Representatives is keenly committed to as we continue to provide the necessary legislative framework to the current government in its quest to ensure that Nigerians live in peace.
“We must therefore work collectively to deliver more on the goals of this administration to drastically reduce cases of insecurity across the country,” he said.
Also speaking, the Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere who is a member of Ad-hoc panel, said the screening was important to enable the lawmakers to understand the Service Chief’s direction towards tackling insecurity in the country.
“It is important we have this kind of engagement so we understand you better, know you better and carry your message directly to our people. I commend the President for the nominations. The men are ready to take relevant strategic national security issues forward.
“Looking through their profiles, I have no doubt, these are men who have committed themselves to the stability, security and progress of Nigeria and the world at large,” Ihonvbere said.
Addressing the lawmakers, the Defence Chief, Musa said the Nigerian Armed Forces under his watch will defend the country’s territorial integrity and democracy as well as safeguard internal security and unity to achieve the stability required to guarantee sustainable national development.
Musa also said he intends to achieve his mission based leadership concept that hinged on three pillars which include being people-centricity, prioritising troops’ welfare while deepening jointness and interagency collaboration.
“The contemporary security challenges which the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and other security services are currently confronting calls for a more concise approach towards mitigating the issues.
“In view of this, I am committed to ensuring a conducive and secure environment for the protection of lives and properties for socio-economic activities to thrive.
“To ensure this, the AFN under my leadership is poised to fulfilling its constitutional roles in order to defend Nigeria’s sovereignty against internal and external aggressors,” he said.
On his part, the Army Chief, Lagbaja said under his leadership, the Nigerian Army shall work harmoniously with all other sub government’s to ensure Nigeria’s territories are secured while lives and properties are not threatened.
Lagbaja said, his philosophy of command is to transform the Nigerian Army into a well trained and highly motivated force towards achieving its responsibility within a joint environment while expressing the intention to partner with the National Assembly and other stakeholders in achieving the goal.
“Today’s painful reality is that insecurity has distorted our developmental plans and aspiration of a strong, prosperous, globally competitive and influential nation. Never in the recent past is the requirement for a proactive, adaptive and inclusive leadership more needed than Nigerian security environment of today. These requirements are what I intend to meet as the Chief of Army Staff if confirmed by the Green Chamber.
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“I am mindful that the Nigerian Army has a crucial component of our military instrument of national power. It is not only the largest but also the most complex, most geographically spread, most sought after during crisis and also often most misunderstood.
“I believe that for the Nigerian Army to grapple with the demands of the contemporary security environment, it must consistently transformed to be a step ahead,” he said.
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