President Muhammadu Buhari has reaffirmed his support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria in ending the myriad of security challenges plaguing the nation, including terrorism and militancy.
The president who was represented by the Minister of Defence, Brig.-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali, retired, stated this at the inauguration of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja on Wednesday.
Buhari commended the efforts of the Nigerian armed forces in containing the security challenges, restating that security remained top on his administration’s agenda.
The president, however, urged them to sustain the tempo in the ongoing campaigns against contemporary threats across the country.
“I want to emphatically state that one of the top priorities of this administration is the enhancement of the Armed Forces to discharge their duties.
“We will continue to provide the much needed support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria to deliver efficient services and to effectively discharge their duties.
“I commend the commitment and zeal of the present leadership of the Armed Forces in tackling security issues across the country.
“I also appreciate the successes of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the counter-insurgency operation in the North East and urge you to sustain the tempo,’’ he said.
Buhari said the activities of the security agencies in the country would be further enhanced to actualise the objective of the present administration in making Nigeria a safe haven for investment.
Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai said the vision behind the establishment of the resource centre was anchored on the need to optimise the capability of the Army.
He, however, noted that contemporary security challenges in the country and around its borders had stretched the Armed Forces close to its limits.
Buratai said the need to optimise the capability of the Army to meet emerging security challenges could not be overemphasised.
“The Nigerian Army Resource Centre is a vision that is anchored on the need to ensure that the Army does not only participate in the ground battle, but indeed under all terrain to ensure that our adversaries are defeated wherever they are.
“As you are aware, Nigeria faces sundry security challenges, but our main focus has been in counter-insurgency operations in the North East.
“The Nigerian Army has been involved in operations to check militancy, pipeline vandalism, armed robbery, cattle rustling and inter-ethnic clashes among others.
“These myriad of security challenges have stretched us close to our limits,’’ he said.
He, however, assured Nigerians of the Army’s readiness in conjunction with sister agencies to rid the country of criminal elements operating in the guise of militants, terrorists and others.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Army Resource Centre comprises conference halls, meeting rooms, and a museum among others.