April 28, (THEWILL) – President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, in Abuja, said the robust plan to improve the security architecture of the country had been realised, with upgrading of hardware, building of facilities, training, and equipping of staff and officers, and structuring of a welfare system that caters for more than 50,000 children of fallen heroes.
The President spoke at the 2023 Trooping and Presentation of Colours Parade held at the Eagles Square, Abuja.
The event witnessed the retiring and replacing of 53 unit colours and the issuance of 28 new ones.
Speaking at the ceremony attended by two former leaders of the country, Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon and President, Goodluck Jonathan, President Buhari said he instituted the recruitment of 60,000 soldiers into the Armed Forces, and thousands graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy and other security institutions to tighten security.
“At the inception of this administration, the nation’s security situation was greatly challenged by the activities of violent non-state actors.
“Today, I am pleased to specially note that the situation has tremendously improved and I wish to also proudly highlight that we have made remarkable progress in the fight against insurgents, militants, oil bunkers, kidnappers, and other criminal elements in the country.
“This administration has achieved a remarkable transformation of the military in the areas of fighting power, training, operations, manpower, remunerations, and medical services. These are in addition to maintenance efficiency, accommodation, and expansion of forces. The improvements in these areas have collectively enhanced the Army’s capacity to effectively carry out its constitutional mandate”, he said.
President Buhari, who endorsed 81 flags for the various units of the Army, noted that the fighting power of our military was at a low ebb as of May 2015, adding “However, 7 years later, its fighting power has increased significantly making it fourth in ranking among African militaries as against seventh in 2015.’’
He said interventions and yearly budgetary allocations to the Army, between 2020 and 2022 alone, had been able to procure hundreds of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles, Troops Carrying Vehicles, utility vehicles, tanks, and Armoured Personnel Carriers to augment those earlier procured.
“From 2017 to 2022, significant numbers of new fighting and utility vehicles along with supporting artillery guns, machine guns, rifles, and corresponding ammunition were acquired and inducted into various theatres of operations. This translates to a significant increment in the Army’s equipment holding since 2015.
“With the significant improvement in the fighting power as a result of the procurement of equipment and mission-specific training, the Army was empowered to rejig its operations. Accordingly, the Army has restructured the conduct of its operations to meet current realities.
“The quantum of platforms inducted into the Army since 2015 had enabled troops to take the battle to the terrorists and criminals, particularly in the North East resulting in the recapture of territories hitherto held by the insurgents”, the President said.
Buhari presented 81 new, symbolic flags to the various units of the Nigerian Army.
The occasion of the 2023 Nigerian Army Trooping and Presentation of Colours Parade was graced by former heads of state, members of the Federal Executive Council, members of the diplomatic Corps, Senior officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association, the media and members of the public.
