WE ARE COMMITED TO ERADICATING TERRORISM, BANDITRY – OLONISAKIN ASSURES NIGERIANS
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin has assured Nigerians of the commitment of the armed forces to eradicate, terrorism and banditry in Nigeria.
General Olonisakin gave the assurance in a lecture titled: National Security Architecture and the Challenges of Peace in Nigeria, delivered on his behalf by the Chief of Defence (Civil Operations), Rear Admiral Obed Ngalabak at Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti.
General Olonisakin said that most nations of the world have the attainment of peace as a major land mark for their existence, stating that the pursuit of peace is often combine with the quest for security. He identified the security challenges to the attainment of peace in Nigeria as: the continued displacement of people due to the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, surge in the headers-farmers conflict across central Nigeria, the long running militancy in the Niger Delta, and the re-emergence of the separatist agitation in the South East.
General Olonisakin opined that the foremost responsibility of the government is the protection from danger; intimidation and apprehension of its people and the ability of any government to live up to its responsibility depends on the country’s security architecture. The national security architecture of Nigeria, according to him, is structured with various levels; stating that the aim of the lecture was to discuss National Security Architecture and the challenges of Peace in Nigeria.
The Chief of Defense Staff, Federal Republic of Nigeria, said that Conceptual Clarification, Nigeria’s National Security Architecture, National Efforts at improving Peace and security, Challenges of peace and Security in Nigeria, Security Strategy to the challenges of peace and security are the scope in achieving national security.
General Abayomi Gabriel, in his lecture said the challenges to Peace and National security are enormous and explained that unemployment, illiteracy, Nigeria Geo-Strategic Environment, Inadequate Budgetary allocation are some of the reasons why fighting terrorism become difficult.
The guest lecturer said some efforts had been put in place towards improving peace and security in Nigeria. Some of these efforts include increase in budgetary allocation for defence, enactment of grazing bill, improving the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) for security operation and improving the military industrial complex.
He went further to say that training and leadership development, reconfiguring the security architecture, bilateral and multilateral partnerships are some of the major solutions to combat insecurity. He concluded by saying that the Nigeria government has come up with strategies for mitigating some of these challenge. Several successes have been achieved through these various initiatives in the six geopolitical zones of the country. It is envisaged that this initiative, when sustained would achieve the desired result.
In his goodwill message, the Pro- Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the University, Prof. Bamitale Omole, noted that it was evidently clear that the current Nigeria security architecture is outdated. He described the lecture as apt, timely and advocated preventive security architecture by concentrating more on community policing.
In her remarks, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mrs. Olubunmi Ajayi said, the security challenges facing Nigeria today are multi-dimensional and multifaceted ranging from religious fundamentalism which have contributed negatively to the growth and economic development in Nigeria.
In his welcome address, the Dean, Faculty of the Social Sciences, Prof. Femi Omotoso said that the Faculty was trained to probe into societal problems with a view to proffering solutions to them. This, he said necessitated the lecture so as to have a thorough understanding of the problem in order to collaborate with security agencies to provide a workable and achievable solutions.
The colourful event was attended by eminent personalities, Royal fathers, academia, business men and captains of industries among whom are Ewi of Ado, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi, the Elekole, Oba Fasiku, Olode of Ode Ekiti, Oba Samuel Aderiye, the Onisan of Isan, former Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Prof. Dipo Kolawole, Senior members of the Academic Community of Ekiti State University and Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti.
Bode Olofinmuagun
Head, Directorate of Information and Corporate Affairs