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Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, emphasized the need for Nigeria to consider alternative approaches to conflict resolution and security management beyond the exclusive reliance on military intervention.
With the theme “The Role of the Military in the Protection of Nigeria’s National Interest and Security,” the event, held at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) in Abuja, shed light on the complexities of contemporary security challenges and the potential role of the military in addressing them.
Gen Lagbaja highlighted that the end of the Cold War has seen a significant rise in intra-state conflicts, particularly due to the activities of non-state actors such as violent entities like the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda and Al-Shabab in Somalia, as well as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) in Nigeria.
This has led to the Nigerian military being deployed in virtually all states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The COAS emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of armed conflicts, rather than solely relying on the military to resolve them.
He noted, “Attending early to issues early on will nip grievance in the bud and prevent conflict from developing into a major crisis.”
Gen Lagbaja also suggested that national security and national interest are intertwined, with the former being a crucial component of the latter.
He emphasized that the military plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the nation’s interest and security, particularly in the face of evolving security threats.
In his address, the Chief of Army Staff highlighted the importance of defense economics in framing capability requirements and pushing them to the political leadership for funding.
He stressed that policies must be accepted without reservation, and strategies to achieve objectives must be developed.
Additionally, Gen Lagbaja highlighted the need for the Armed Forces of Nigeria to adapt to the evolving nature of the battleground by establishing innovative procedures, strategies, and tactics for effective engagement in their operations.
He also emphasized the importance of training and retraining, updating and resourcing, and the necessity of maintaining a unity of command to minimize discrepancies.
In his goodwill message, Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, reassured participants that President Bola Tinubu is passionate about the development of security in Nigeria and will do his best to address the challenges highlighted at the seminar.
Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, a member of NARC BOT, commended the COAS for the wide-ranging coverage of the lecture, and retired IGP Solomon Arase, Chairman of the Police Service Commission, expressed sympathy for the military over the incident in Okuama, Delta State, while calling for caution in considering the creation of state police.
The event was attended by various stakeholders, including representatives of Service Chiefs, heads of Security Agencies, and senior military officers, both serving and retired.
As Nigeria grapples with security challenges and seeks to protect its national interest and security, the insights shared by Gen Lagbaja provide a valuable framework for moving beyond military intervention to more effective and sustainable conflict management strategies.
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