By Philip Nwosu
President Muhammadu Buhari has charged discharging soldiers of the Nigerian Armed Forces to assist security agencies to tackle insurgency, even in their retirement.
Buhari, who spoke during the passing out ceremony for the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC) trainees course 2/2022, counselled the officers to understand that they were going into a society beset by security challenges, which transcend Nigeria’s national borders. He said as veterans, they should support in tackling community-based security challenges.
Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retd), urged the 756 retiring soldiers to be proactive in their conduct, in order to avoid or overcome these post-service challenges.
He said: “It is also risky for you to embark on a new lifestyle that is above your means, or engage in non-lucrative ventures, neither should you abstain from physical exercises. I am sure that your training here has exposed you to several vocational opportunities, entrepreneurship procedures and general management skills, to assist you alleviate the above mentioned pitfalls, in order to have a stress-free and meaningful life in retirement.
“In this wise, I urge you to employ the various instructions and skills you have acquired while undergoing NAFRC training for peaceful and productive economic life as you reintegrate into the Nigerian civil society.”
He said that the Defence Headquarters will continue to support the NAFRC to build capacity to fully run the courses at the Centre in line with the centre’s modernized and reviewed curriculum, urging the Commandant and the staff and instructors at the NAFRC to maintain and make these courses a huge success by providing the enabling environment, imparting Knowledge, skills and the right attitude that they have acquired.