President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the resilience and professionalism of the Nigerian Army, describing the institution as the pride of the nation.
His remarks were delivered during the grand finale of the 2024 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL), held at the 3 Armor Division in Jos on Saturday.
In his speech, read by the Minister of Defense, Abubakar Badaru, President Tinubu stated, “There is no doubt; you represent the pride of the nation; an institution with history; an institution that has never failed Nigeria. Your charge now is not only to protect your country but to do what is right and just at all times.”
President Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to building a well-equipped and professional army. “As your Commander-in-Chief, my administration is committed to building a well-equipped and truly professional army that will remain the pride of the nation,” he said.
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To support the army’s mission, Tinubu announced the approval of several critical measures. “We are committed to providing you with all that you need to enable you to fulfill your constitutional responsibilities.
To this end, I have approved the payment of Group Life Assurance for all members of the Nigerian Army who died in the line of duty.
To heighten your combat efficiency and dexterity, I also approved the purchase of attack helicopters and other necessary equipment and combat enablers for you to carry out your assignments more proficiently and effectively.”
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Expressing his pride in the army, Tinubu noted, “Judging from the excellent parade and the display I have watched this morning, I am convinced that the Nigerian Army has justified the trust reposed in them for the defense of the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
I feel proud to be your Commander-in-Chief as I watch the array of equipment and your dexterity in handling it. I see the eagerness and pride on the faces of the young men and women as they showed their commitment to defend the country.”
The president highlighted the importance of evolving with changing global dynamics. “We live in a complex and ever-changing world, and our army must continue to evolve to meet the new challenges of the changing world.
I am told that you spent a part of the Army Day Celebration holding lectures and brainstorming sessions on the evolving complex and uncertain security situations.
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It is good and proper that you did that so that you can be better prepared for the evolving challenges. As the world changes, our security architecture must also change to meet up with the new threats.”
In his welcome remarks, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taofeed Lagbaja, reaffirmed the army’s dedication to its mission. “The Nigerian Army remains committed to its mission statement, which is ‘To Win all Land Battles in Defense of the Territorial Integrity of Nigeria, Protect Her National Interests, and Accomplish Other Tasks in Aid of Civil Authority.’”
Lagbaja emphasized the army’s readiness to make sacrifices to fulfill their duty. “The fulfillment of this responsibility sometimes demands that we make the ultimate sacrifice.
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To this end, we are continuously engaged in preparing ourselves for this onerous duty by honing our skills and competencies for this task.
The Nigerian Army under my watch is committed to improving our operational effectiveness to meet the ever-changing violent and complex threats to the nation.”