Defence chief initiates military reforms

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Gabriel Olonisakin yesterday set up a ten-man committee mandated to renew the doctrines and procedures of the Nigeria Armed Forces.

A statement issued by Group Captain Wap Maigida on behalf of the Defence spokesman, Colonel Rabe Abubakar said the committee is to come up with a workable plan to renew the military.

He said: “The committee which has until 16 November to submit its reports is expected to identify real and urgent measures and recommend short, medium and long term reforms needed to reinvigorate military professionalism.”

Maigida said the committee’s suggestions would be used to enhance Nigerian military’s performance in the current security challenges in the country, especially, the North East.

He said their terms of reference include; re-appraising previous military transformation activities and suggesting options for realistic reforms and to determine ways of improving on operational efficiency in the services.

Also they are also mandated to examine ways of fostering mission-oriented training in the armed forces and to evaluate the foreign courses that are currently attended by military personnel and suggest ways of ensuring that such courses tally with desired milestones.

The committee is to consider among other measures for improving on troop’s adherence to Law of Armed Conflicts in Internal Security and Peace Support Operations, determine impediments to effective logistics support and recommend the way forward.

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