Newly-appointed Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima has formally taken over the mantle of leadership at the unit from his immediate predecessor in office, Brig.-Gen. Sagir Musa.
The handing and taking over ceremony was held at the Army Headquarters, in Abuja, on Wednesday.
Gen. Yerima was, until his appointment, the Deputy Director Reserve at the Defence Headquarters.
The former DAPR, Gen. Sagir Musa has been redeployed to Nigerian Army Training Centre ( NATRAC) as training team member.
A release issued by a member of the Directorate, Major Musa Yahaya, said during the handing and taking over ceremony, Yerima thanked the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru for finding him worthy to be appointed the Army spokesman.
He congratulated the outgoing Director, Gen. Musa for the successes recorded during his tenure.
He noted that the period of Information Communication Technology (ICT) has made it easier for speedy dissemination of information to the public stressing that this has brought about additional challenges to information managers.
He added that strengthening Military -Media relationship is one of the loft ideas for professionalism. He extolled the media for supporting the Nigerian Army Operations through balance reportage even as he called on them to remain committed in the discharge of their professional duties.
Gen. Yerima pledged to evolve measures and potent ways that would improve and strengthen the already existing relationship between the Nigerian Army and other noble institutions with a view to consolidate on the gains in the ongoing war against insurgency and terrorism in the country.
The new DAPR said the military would be open to constructive engagements and criticism that will support the military operations against all enemies of the country stressing that the Nigerian Army under Maj.- Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru would continue to value all partnership and cooperation of the media in a mutually respectful, and cordial manner devoid of the usual traditional rancour, distrust, suspicion and bitterness.
He assured of his resolve to be open and responsive at all times in order to make the job of information dissemination to Nigerians more accessible and cautioned the media to be mindful of negative reportage that will dampen the spirit of the fighting troops in the battle front against insurgency and terrorism across the nation.
In his valedictory speech, the former DAPR, Gen. Sagir Musa congratulated his successor on his well-deserved appointment which he said was coming at the time the Nigerian Army has achieved so much on the ongoing fight against insurgencies and terrorism across the country.
He noted that the event marks yet another turning point in the history of the Directorate of Army Public Relations, adding that the Directorate has lived up to expectation in the discharge of its assigned responsibilities in supports of the fight against insurgency and other related crimes through robust media relations and effective information dissemination as its affects military operations and national security.
Gen. Musa expressed profound gratitude to the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai for the opportunity to serve and to the current COAS, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru for appointing him as a member of the Nigerian Army Training team which he said would give him another opportunity to impact positively on younger officers and commanders in the Nigerian Army.
Gen. Sagir also commended the officers, soldiers as well as civilian staff of the Directorate for the enormous supports without which it would have being impossible to record the successes so far achieved under his leadership. He urged them to extend same hands of fellowship and support to the new Director.
The event which witnessed the signing of handing and taking over notes, presentation of Directorate flag to the new Director and his subsequent decoration with DAPR insignia had in attendance senior officers, soldiers and civilian staff.
Also present at the event were the National President, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Malam Muktah Surajo and the Deputy National President/Commandant Customs Command and Staff College, among other dignitaries.