The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Ali, has charged tactical commanders on professionalism, inter-agency cooperation and adequate information sharing to curb Nigeria’s prevailing security challenges.
The GOC gave them this task while declaring open a four-day capacity building training for the commanders at the headquarters of 6 Brigade, Nigeria Army in Jalingo.
The theme for the event is, “Capacity Building and Cooperation Approach: A key to Overcoming the Current Security Challenges Affecting the Nation.”
According to Ali, the training was required due to the prevailing security challenges in Nigeria.
He added that every kind of insurgency had its peculiar challenges, depending on the environment.
He also said that the training of the tactical cadre was one of the pivot visions of Gen. Farouk Yahaya, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in ensuring professionalism of the army in all its conducts.
The Cadre is planned to enlighten you on your roles and responsibilities, especially in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
The programme has been deliberately tailored to focus on interagency cooperation in a multi-joint environment, junior leadership skills, media operations, the Nigerian Army code of conduct and Rules of Engagement for the upcoming 2023 Elections,” he said.
The GOC said the training was also designed to enhance the capacity building of tactical-level officers in the contemporary internal security environment.
As you can observe, this year’s theme was carefully crafted in line with the COAS’ vision for a professional Nigerian Army ready to accomplish assigned mission within a joint environment in defence of Nigeria.”
This theme took into cognisance the place of training in building a professional army that is the pride of any nation. This is more so as the Nigerian Army is conducting joint operations on several fronts and theatres of operations.
It is therefore imperative to continuously train to improve capacity in operational planning,” he said.
He also urged the commanders to renew their vigour towards curbing the daunting security challenges in the country.
As the 2022 training cycle rolls towards the end, 3 Division is poised to pursue the full implementation of the Army Headquarters’ training directive for 2022.
As we commence the Operations Planning Cadre for the Year 2022, let us not lose sight of the fact that the cadre is aimed at availing the participants the necessary capabilities and competencies that they require to successfully plan operations.
It also provides the opportunity to promote synergy and cooperation with sister services and other security agencies, he said.
As you are all aware, the security challenges we face today are both real and daunting and therefore require renewed vigour by commanders at all levels.
It is in realisation of this fact and in consonance with the COAS Vision that this operational planning cadre was organised by 3 Division, the GOC added.
Ali encouraged the participants to apply all that they would be taught by tapping from the resource persons’ wealth of knowledge and experiences ,to educate their troops and apply the same in the field.
He expressed optimism that the cadre’s set goals would be met, thereby making them better officers capable of discharging their constitutional roles professionally after the training.
The GOC applauded the Chief of Army Staff for the moral and financial support he provided for the training, he said without it the event would not have been possible.
He also thanked representatives of heads of security agencies present, the media as well as resource persons for attending the event.
The Brigade Commander, 6 Brigade Jalingo, Brig.-Gen. Frank Etim, thanked the GOC for supporting the brigade morally and financially.
He also thanked the COAS for his vision in enhancing the capacity of officers through training and retraining.
Etim urged the participants to take advantage of the training to build themselves for challenges ahead.
Mr Abimbola Sokoya, Commissioner of Police, Taraba, while addressing newsmen, lauded the army for developing avenues for collaboration.
Sokoya assured that the training would be of great value in curbing insurgency in the country.
He added that such training would enhance the capacity of participants who would replicate it elsewhere thereafter.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the security agencies present at the event included the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), and the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Others were Department of State Services, Nigeria Immigration Service and Federal Road Safety Corps.