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COAS reaffirms commitment to repositioning Nigerian army for efficiency

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has reaffirmed his commitment to repositioning the Nigerian Army to conduct efficient operations in tackling current security challenges.
Yahaya gave the assurance in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Thursday in Abuja.
The army chief spoke at the second Senior Command and Leadership Seminar in Kaduna.
He said the army would be better positioned to deal decisively with all adversaries behind the threats to internal security of the country, with effective training and retraining of officers and soldiers.
Yahaya stated that training would improve the capacity of Nigerian army to checkmate the security challenges currently bedeviling the country.
The COAS also assured that mechanisms were already in motion to reinvigorate training and to effectively plan and conduct operations, drawing lessons from previous operations.
He charged General Officers Commanding (GOCs) and Brigade Commanders to devise multidimensional, multidisciplinary and multifaceted approaches to defeat all adversaries and challenges.
Yahaya urged the senior officers to make utmost use of the opportunities offered by the seminar.
The GOC 1 Division, Kaduna, Maj.-Gen Kabiru Mukhtar, noted that the seminar was a clear indication of the premium placed on quality leadership in the Nigerian army by the COAS.
Mukhtar noted that contemporary threats and the operating environment demanded innovative leadership and competence from commanders.
According to him, operations under 1 Division have yielded remarkable successes leading to a marked decline in security incidents in its Area of Responsibility (AoR).
He attributed the achievements to the concerted efforts of the troops and sister security agencies, under the guidance of the chief of army staff.
Former Chief of Defence Staff, retired Gen. Martin-Luther Agwai, delivered the keynote address, while former Director Defence Information, retired Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, among others attended the event. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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PANDEF Clarifies Visit To Tinubu, Knocks Wike Over Inflammatory Comments

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called on President Bola Tinubu to prevail on the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike to retract his publicly disparaging remarks made recently against the socio-political body.
PANDEF described as regrerrable and embarrassing comments by Wike in the aftermath of the group’s visit to Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, even to the extent of insulting the late former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin.
Recall that the FCT minister had, on Thursday, during a media chat, described PANDEF as “the worst organisation anybody can rely on”, while also calling the board of trustee members of the body “political merchants”.
In a statement signed by PANDEF Chairman on Saturday in Abuja, Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali, urged President Tinubu as the father of the nation, to prevail upon the Honourable Minister to retract his inflammatory statements and extend due respect to these eminent.
Igali clarified that the meeting with the president provided a valuable platform to discuss pressing issues of national and regional importance. Adding that “PANDEF remains unwavering in its commitment to peace, stability, and equitable development in the Niger Delta. We will continue to engage with great vigour, all relevant stakeholders in pursuit of lasting harmony in Rivers State and the broader South-South region.”
His words: ^To set the record straight, PANDEF the foremost socio-political body representing the South-South regions, composed of some of Nigeria’s most distinguished personalities. The delegation to Mr. President included chairpersons of at least four of the six SouthSouth states’ traditional councils, senior traditional rulers of major ethnic groups, former governors, past presiding officers of the Senate, prominent entrepreneurs, academics, and high-ranking retired military officers.
“It is, therefore, highly regrettable and totally unacceptable that a serving minister in the Federal Government would exhibit such brazen disrespect towards individuals of this standing. This attitude perhaps explains his continued refusal of the Minister to engage with the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, which PANDEF constituted as far back as October 2024, despite repeated attempts to reach.
“The Honourable Minister (Wike) characterized PANDEF as the worst organization ever” and accused its members of visiting the Presidential Villa merely to solicit financial favors. These statements are not only false but also unbecoming of a public official of his stature.
“PANDEF hereby calls upon Mr. President, as the father of the nation, to prevail upon the Honourable Minister to retract his inflammatory statements and extend due respect to these eminent Nigerians and traditional rulers who were, after all, esteemed guests of the Commander-in-Chief. It is apt to remind that the Minister does not own the Niger-Delta and his errant conduct should not be condoned.
“Notwithstanding this regrettable development, PANDEF remains unwavering in its commitment to peace, stability, and equitable development in the Niger Delta. We will continue to engage with great vigour, all relevant stakeholders in pursuit of lasting harmony in Rivers State and the broader South-South region,” Igali stated.
On efforts to restore peace in River State, Igali restated PANDEF’s commitment for peace in the oil-rich State.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, which remains committed to resolving the Rivers State crisis,” Igali stated.
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