From Molly Kilete, Abuja
A 4-day seminar on peace support operations organised by the Nigerian Army has opened in Abuja. The seminar, which has as its theme, “Nigeria in Contemporary Peace Support Operations Environment”, is aimed at deepening collaborations between the Nigerian Army, sister services and security agencies towards enhancing operational competence.
Organised by the Army Headquarters Department of Operations, the seminar serves as the Nigerian Army’s effort to keep participants abreast with current happenings in the field of Peace Support Operations.
Declaring the seminar open, the Chief Of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya, described the seminar as timely, saying it is coming at a time when the contemporary operations environment is increasingly complex, ambiguous and volatile.
He said given the current security situations in the country, “Our operations, therefore, need to be joint and multi-agency in scope so as to harness the combined competencies of all in order to achieve desired end states”.
Gen Yahaya, said: “This seminar is characteristically another Nigerian Army’s noble efforts at deepening collaborations with the Sister Services and other security agencies towards enhancing our competencies.
“As we are all aware, the contemporary operations environment is increasingly complex, ambiguous and volatile. Our operations, therefore, need to be joint and multi-agency in scope so as to harness the combined competencies of all in order to achieve desired end states.
“It is in this wise and in accordance with the cardinal pillars of Professionalism and Cooperation which are key to my vision that a seminar of this nature becomes imperative.”
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While reiterating the commitment of the Nigerian Army to improving Nigeria’s position as a force to reckon with in Peace Support Operations, the COAS said “this seminar is geared at enhancing synergy and jointness with all security agencies involved in such operations. Thus, the idea behind organising this seminar in Abuja is geared towards facilitating easy reach by all security agencies to enhance participation”.
He charged the participants to come up with useful contributions to achieve the objective of the seminar.
Speaking on Nigeria’s participation in Peace Support Operations which dates back to the 1960s, with notable achievements and commendations that contributed to regional and global stability and peace under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States, African Union and the United Nations, he said Nigeria has contributed over 40 Peace Support Operations in Africa and across the world, as part of efforts towards facilitating the restoration of peace in conflict zones.
He said, “the theme of the Seminar, which is ‘Nigeria in the Contemporary Peace Support Operations Environment’ is quite apt as it addresses the imperative of balancing Nigeria’s contributions to peace support operations vis-à-vis other forms of internal security challenges that are bedevilling our dear country.”
The seminar which is taking place at the Army War College Nigeria has in attendance top serving and retired military officers, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, former force commanders of the United Nations Peacekeeping In Liberia, participants from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, paramilitary among other participants.