By Victor Akaa, Abuja.
The National Assembly committee on Army has recognised the efforts of the Nigerian Army in tackling the insurgency and other emerging security threats in the country.
The committee also said, there was an urgent need for the committee to synergized and engage with the leadership of the Army with a definite view to robustly addressing the challenges faced by the Army.
“Our NASS’ joint committee is very important to the Army. We fill in the gap for the Nigerian Army in the NASS. Among other thongs, we are glad that the Army is living up to expectation in tackling the myriads of threats to internal security in the country”
These were the words of the chairman senate committee on Army, Sen. Ali Ndume who led the national Assembly joint committee members to the Army headquarters, Abuja.
Sen. Ndume said, the committee considers the Nigerian Army as a very important institution, considering the paramount role which the force plays in the ongoing fight against insurgency ,Banditry and kidnapping across the nation.
Ndume noted that, the committee upon his inauguration by the senate, it went on a fact-finding mission to have a firsthand information about the challenges which both officers and soldiers of the force were confronted with, across various theatre of war.
Ndume further maintained that, the discoveries and information gotten so far shows that, the leadership of the force is effectively discharging its responsibilities and constitutional mandates efficiently.
Sen. Ndume therefore Commended the efforts of the Leadership of NA , assures the force of the committee’s support to ensuring that, the NA is given the needed attention in area of budget approval and other assistance to enable it deliver more on its constitutional mandate of defending the nation considering the enormous challenges emanating from the fight against insurgency.
Ndume while admonishing the army to do more for bringing the lasting peace in devastating areas also, promised that the deliberations in the visit will form part of the senate resolution and road map for the military welfare and robust outing in the 9th senate.
In the same vain, the Chairman House Committee on Army, Honourable Abdulrasaq Namdas applauded the Army for the successes recorded which include, fight against the insurgents, and other social vices, the recent unveiling of indigenous Mines resistance Ambush protection (MRAP) vehicles, bullet proof van amongst other machineries by the Defence Industrial Corporation (DICON) has proved that the NA is self reliant and will enhance it’s operational capacity.
Namdas said the various achievement of the current leadership of the NA in the area of developmental projects such as offices and staff accommodation, as well as upgrading of training facilities across the country no doubt proves that the Army is moving in the right direction.
In his reaponse, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Tukur Buratai expressed gratitude to the committee for the support given to the army so far and also for embarking on a comprehensive fact finding mission to the field to having a feel of the activities and efforts of the force across the nation since it’s inauguration
Buratai further assured the committee members that the army, under his leadership will continue to carry out it’s constitutional responsibilities diligently, responsively and professionally.
He therefore solicited for more funding and support of the committee to enable the NA deliver effectively in the ongoing fight against insurgency and other security threats confronting the nation assuring that , such support would encourage the troops to do more to defend the country from all forms of threat
