The joint committee of the House of Representatives on Defence and the Army has tasked President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominee for the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj. Gen. Farouk Yahaya, to introduce innovations in the drive to address the nation’s security challenges.
The charge was dropped on Tuesday by chairman of the committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson, during the screening of the new COAS, noting that “the armed forces of Nigeria needs to adopt innovative measures to curb the killings and wanton destruction of property as a result of these cases of insecurity”.
The lawmaker said while hoping that he would be confirmed, and if so, “the new Chief of Army Staff will do everything with other service chiefs to bring this to an end. You will agree with me that Nigeria deserves a reinvigorated armed forces that is robust, well-trained, adequately equipped fully motivated to protect Nigerians from the devastating effects of terrorism and other security challenges in the country”.
Reeling through his wealth of experience as a soldier, Yahaya pledged to deliver in his mandate, if confirmed, stressing that with the needed support, “we’ll get there”.
Also responding a question from the chairman of the committee on Army, Abdurazak Namdas on the noted rivalry within the three armed forces, resulting in ineffectiveness of the fight against terrorism, and what he intended to do differently, Yahaya promised a greater synergy between them, and other security agencies.
The session was later taken into closed door, with the report expected for the consideration and adoption of the larger house soon.
