Inter-agency rivalry thing of the past – CDS

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, has admitted the limiting effect of inter-agency rivalry and conflicts within the armed forces and para-military institutions in the country.
Olonisakin has however, assured that such differences is now a thing of thepast as efforts are being made to close ranks.The military chief stated this on Saturday in Abuja at the flag off of the2nd Edition of the Route March Exercise for Security and Response Agencies titled “Together We are”.
He said that a synergy has being created with the Quarterly Route March being organized by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) to promote interactions and understanding among military personnel and other para-military and security agencies in the country.
Olonisakin who was represented by the Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Maj-Gen. Ahmed Mohammed led the route march from the old parade ground in Area 8 Abuja, through to Area 10 and 11 andterminated the exercised where it started from.
He expressed satisfaction with the massive turn out of all the security agencies involved in the exercise, saying a better understanding had been created on how military institutions and other security agencies in the country can work together for peace and unity of the country.
He Said: “As you have seen all of us came out with high morale, you have met with Officers and men whom youhave never seen, and I have seen the interactions of all security agencies and this is how it should be.“We are now becoming closer, the issue of inter-service rivalry and indeed other aspect that rob us of vocation will now be henceforth dealt away with because we are now relating on personal basis.
Take advantage of this gathering by taking the numbers of other participants so that if you have any issue with the soldier, road safety, immigration, customs, etc, you will know that you have somebody that you can call upon henceforth and sort things out”.
Also speaking, the Director of DefenceInformation (DDI), Maj-Gen. John Enenche in an interview with journalists said most of the conflicts within and among military and para-military personnel were as a result of lack of interactions and misunderstanding.
He maintained that the route march was aimed at reinforcing the maxim that security agencies are working together to protect lives and properties, ensuring unity and progress, supporting democracy, defending national interest and upholding the constitution of Nigeria.
The exercised which kicked off at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja, had in attendance the nation’s entire security architecture comprising of the Nigerian Army, The Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Police Force, The Nigerian Customs Service, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Nigerian Prison Service and the Department of State Service (DSS).Others are the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Fire Service, Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO), the NationalEmergency and Management Agency, (NEMA) the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

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