By Augustine Ehikioya
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, on Tuesday 4 June, 2024, pushed for collaboration with reputable institutions that will bring on board emerging technologies to aid the Nigerian Army’s transformation drive.
He made the remark while declaring open, the Combat Support Arms Training (COSAT) Week 2024 at the Nigerian Army School-To-Work of Military Engineering in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
This was contained in a statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Major General, Onyema Nwachukwu. It was made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA).
General Lagbaja, according to the statement, reminded the gathering that non-linear, highly unpredictable, and ambiguous operating environment, Combat Arms of the Nigerian Army (NA) require robust and reliable support to function effectively and achieve military strategic, operational, and tactical objectives and therefore the Combat Support forces must be at the top of their game of providing intelligence, communications, engineering, and fire support services that have an immediate impact on the course of the battle.
He expressed delight that the Nigerian Army can today, boast of a highly efficient, competent, adaptive, and resourceful Combat Support Corps, that over the years, have contributed immensely to its operational successes within and outside the country.
Giving a review of the critical roles of the Combat Support Arms, the COAS pointed out, that while the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery has consistently provided necessary fire support to troops’ operations, the Nigerian Army Engineers helped the forces to live, move, and fight.
He added, that the Nigerian Army Signals has provided effective communications to aid command and control and even fight in the cyberspace in defence of the combat forces and the nation, while the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps, has lived up to its vital responsibility of gathering and providing intelligence in both conventional and asymmetric operations.
Gen Lagbaja noted that the four Combat Support Corps have individually and collectively lived up to expectations in the Nigerian Army’s training and operational endeavors.
He however cautioned, that despite the achievements, there is always room for improvement due to the dynamic political, economic, physical, technological environment, as well the ever changing character of war in itself.
He maintained that this necessitated a need for continuous training, as well as research development in the ways the NA conducts warfare.
The Army Chief emphasized that in line with his Command Philosophy to “transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped, and highly motivated force towards achieving our constitutional responsibilities within a joint environment,” the NA, through the Combat Support Corps must partner both governmental and non-governmental institutions to continue to embark on viable research and developmental drives that will propel the application of emerging technologies to support NA operations.
He assured the gathering of the unwavering commitment of the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in supporting the Nigerian Army in its drive for massive equipment upgrade and acquisition to help attain NA’s strategic plan to significantly improve its equipment serviceability, operational efficiency and effectiveness.
“We are fortunate to have a government that is in sync with our ideas to effectively secure our dear country,” he said.
In a goodwill message to the troops, the Benue State Governor, Reverend Father (Dr) Hyacinth Alia, who lauded the troops for their sacrifices in the operational theaters across the country, described the COSAT Week as another step in the right direction to leverage on emerging technologies to improve military operations in the efforts to address the nefarious activities of non-state actors.
He observed that the NA has blossomed into a reputable force to reckon with on the African continent and globally.
The Governor assured that the people and Government of Benue State will continue to support the ideals of the NA in its quest for security development.
Governor Alia noted that the NA’s operational synergy with other security agencies have brought about relative peace in Benue and the contiguous states.
He urged the security forces to remain resilient.
Professor Abiodun Musa Aibinu, the Vice Chancellor Summit University, Offa, Kwara State, gave the keynote address on the topic “Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Robust Combat Support to the Nigerian Army”.
He enjoined the NA to waste no time in incorporating emerging technologies into its operations in tackling threats to national security.
In his remarks, the Commander Corps of Engineers, Major General Philip Eromosele had earlier revealed that the COSAT aims at enhancing operational efficiency of Combat Supports Corps as well as to deliberate and proffer solutions leaning on emerging technologies as a panacea for operational efficiency in the fight against national threats.
He explained further, that the COSAT presents an opportunity for Combat Suppprt Corps of the NA to appraise their performance under the Chief of Army Staff’s Command Philosophy.
General Eromosele noted, that this edition of the COSAT will showcase a Research Development exhibition and River Crossing demonstrations.
The event attracted critical stakeholders in the Science and Technology, as well as Research Development sectors.
Equally gracing the event were the Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Alhaji Abdulazeez Musa Yar’ Adua, Vice Chairman, House Committee on Army, Hon David Ogewu and the representative of the Minister of Innovation and Technology.
