The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Aboyomi Gabriel Olonisakin, has charged officers and men of the security forces to drop unnecessary ego and rivalry, and work together to secure Nigeria.
Olonisakin stated that synergy and effective collaboration between security forces is imperative to succeed in the discharge of the onerous task of securing the nation against terrorism and insurgency.
Addressing the maiden Joint Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency (CTCOIN) Seminar for students of Senior Course 42 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, the CDS said that the theme “Enhancing Jointness in CTCOIN Operations through Collaboration” was very apt and timely considering the enormous roles currently being played by the armed forces and other security agencies in confronting the security challenges facing the nation.
According to him, “there is no doubt that our security forces require synergy and effective collaboration to succeed in the discharge of the onerous task of securing the nation. The required synergy transcends beyond the three services of the armed forces to the paramilitary and even NGOs and other stakeholders in our various theatre of operation.
“This synergy is essential and vital to achieving our common objective of securing Nigeria. It will also help in formulating policies and assist the armed forces in its operations.”
Addressing the students who are in the rank of Major and its equivalence, the CDS said, as future field commanders, it is essential for them to recognise the need for effective synergy among all stakeholders.
“You must all display maturity and jettison all the hindrances to synergy and cooperation, such as ego and rivalry. I understand that, before now, the Seminar was organized at the academic departmental level. In the wisdom of the leadership of the College and in tandem with the realities of contemporary security challenges in the country, the need to have a joint seminar was conceptualised.
“It is believed that with this coming together, shared experiences and cross-fertilizations of ideas would be enhanced. Let me therefore commend the Commandant and his management team for this initiative that is aimed at enhancing jointness among the Armed Forces and other security agencies as demanded by current realities.
“What we have today is the product of long period of planning and deliberations. Most importantly, the theme of the Seminar is also directly linked to the objective of the Senior Course as well as the thinking of the strategic leaders of the Country.
“I also find the Seminar most appropriate as majority of you students would be deployed to the field in command and staff appointments upon graduation from the College. In these appointments, you would be required to take critical decisions that would determine the fate of officers and men under your command.
“As tactical level commanders, you have vital roles to play in the execution of your higher commander’s plan. You will do this successfully by imbibing training, discipline and being flexible in your thoughts and reasoning. I therefore urge you to be open-minded and inquisitive so as to derive the maximum benefits in furtherance of the overall objective of the Seminar,” the CDS said.
