Civil rule is best for Nigeria, says EU

Army goes into massive food production

The military reaffirmed yesterday its full support for democracy and unalloyed subordination to civil authorities.

Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa and Chief of Army Staff Lt-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, who spoke at different fora, dismissed calls for military intervention by a section of those who protested against economic crisis early this month and some political interests.

Also yesterday, the European Union (EU) said democratic governance is the way to go for the country.

To those calling on the military to truncate civil rule, Lt-Gen. Lagbaja said: “As Chief of Army Staff, my simple response to the call is ‘Thanks, but no thanks!’

“The Nigerian Army will not allow itself to be used to undemocratically sail some interests to power.”

He spoke in Uyo during the 2024 Chief of Army Staff combined second and third quarters conference.

Gen. Musa told Minister of Finance Mr. Wale Edun, who visited him, that the military would continue to defend the nation’s democracy.

The defence chief said the military had to a great extent been able to decimate the activities of terrorists, insurgents and other criminal elements.

According to him, the armed forces in collaboration with other security agencies were working tirelessly to ensure the safety of critical government assets and to ensure an increase in oil production to boost economic activities.

Edun commended the military for keeping the country together and protecting democracy at all costs.

He said the commitment of the armed forces to protecting the nation’s democracy would allow the economy to thrive while businesses prosper.

The minister also hailed the huge sacrifices being made by the military towards securing the country.

He assured that the nation’s economy was on the right track as can be seen in positive performance indicators.

The Chief of Army Staff, addressing senior military officers, said: “Another pertinent issue that came up during the recent protest is the call for undemocratic intervention in governance by the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

“One can say this was coming from young Nigerians who never experienced the era of Nigeria’s extensive military rule and the concerted struggle by heroes and heroines of our current democratic dispensation to get the nation on its current path.

“As the Service that received the most image bashing as a fallout of previous military interventions in Nigeria, the Nigerian Army is not poised to lose the new prestige it has painstakingly built in the past 25 years”, Lagbaja said.

While thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the Army with funds and logistics, the COAS maintained that the Army will not fail in its constitutional responsibility of securing the nation’s territorial integrity.

“The Nigerian Army also acquired other combat enablers, such as Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles, rifles, and ammunition to strengthen our operations across the country.

“These acquisitions will undoubtedly enhance the effectiveness of our troops across the various theatres and will help firm up the nation’s path to a secured environment that will enable economic prosperity.

“The Nigerian Army has made remarkable progress in the last two quarters of the year.

“These achievements are a result of the tremendous support from our political leaders, cooperation with sister services and other security agencies, and the backing of Nigerians.

“We urge all well-meaning Nigerians to continue supporting our troops deployed across the Federation.

“We look forward to enhanced collaboration and assistance in making our beloved country, Nigeria, safe for everyone.”

Democratic governance remains best, says EU

The outgoing Europe Union Head of Delegations to Nigeria and West Africa, Samuela Isopi, said democratic governance remains the best.

Speaking at a farewell programme organised by the EU on Monday night, Isopi also described Nigeria as Africa’s leader in innovation.

She said the EU was proud to invest significantly in the transformative power of Nigerian self-determination.

She said: “I am particularly proud and grateful for our partnership and support to Nigeria’s democracy. This is very dear to my heart.

“Democratic governance in Nigeria remains the key inspiration of Nigeria and remains the best way to uplift a stronger and better Nigeria – a Nigeria that cares for its people and lives up to its aspirations.

“In everything we have done together, our support has always been genuine and true.”

In her assessment of Nigeria, the Italian stressed: “On innovation, Nigeria is a leader of the continent and I am very proud that the European Union and its member states have decided to invest significantly in the transformative power of Nigerian self-determination.

“On access to human development, Nigeria is now fully united to solve problems and I am pleased with the critical support that the European Union has provided.

“The European Union, as I have also mentioned in the past, remains by far Nigeria’s loudest voice and counts for about one-third of Nigeria’s foreign trade.

“It is a balance that nobody would believe is in jeopardy.

“The European Union is also by far Nigeria’s most active and hundreds of European companies are absolutely contributing to its economic growth, diversification of its economy, and most importantly, its jobs.

“I am proud of the work we have done with Nigeria for and with Nigerian innovators, Nigerian women, Nigerian civil society, and all the Nigerians who work every day to build a better future.”

The outgoing envoy was also of the opinion that Nigeria and the EU are now much closer.

She said: “So at the end of this week I will be leaving Nigeria. I will also be leaving Africa after serving in this unique continent for 10 years, 10 incredible years since 2014 as EU ambassador and as ambassador of my own country (Italy).”

Isopi is being replaced by Ambassador Gautier Mignot from France, who is expected to arrive on Sunday.

Mignot, 54, has 26 years experience in diplomatic service. He is married with three daughters.

Army undertakes massive food production

Gen. Lagbaja in pledging total loyalty to the authority in the country, said: “With a high sense of responsibility and respect, I humbly express our profound gratitude to the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, for his unflinching support and strategic guidance to the Nigerian Army.

“On behalf of the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, I once more pledge our unalloyed loyalty and total commitment to the defence of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I also wish to acknowledge His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, for honouring our invitation and consistently supporting our collective efforts to combat criminal activities in Akwa Ibom State.”

Declaring open the conference, Eno thanked the Nigerian Army for sustaining the peace and security of the state and Nation.

While appreciating the strategic role played by the Army in securing Akwa Ibom as a leading oil producer in the country, Eno reiterated the need for a new battalion, preferably in the Oron federal constituency.

The governor said the state government had previously donated gunboats and patrol vehicles, among other security measures, adding that the new battalion would reinforce the state’s security architecture.

He commended the synergy between the Army formations and other security agencies, saying it is a major boost to the security of the state.

He assured the military of the state government’s readiness to lend all necessary support to enable the establishment of the proposed army base.

He said that apart from combating physical insecurity such as terrorism, banditry, crude oil theft and others, the Nigerian Army was poised to address the challenge of food crisis which could trigger physical security issues.

Gen. Lagbaja explained that the Nigerian Army as a way of ensuring food security was embarking on massive food production in partnership with the government and the private sector.

“Evidently, the situation that led to the protest seems to have settled, but the Nigerian Army understands that the issue of food security will remain on the front burner of our national security policy and discussions for a while.

“As a way of strengthening its soft power approach to resolving Nigeria’s food security challenge, the Nigerian Army will, in the coming days, review its agricultural policy to better position the Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Limited to significantly boost crop production so that the Army can release grains into the market at highly subsidised rate in support of government efforts.

“Furthermore, the Army Headquarters is reviewing some proposals for partnerships with ministries, departments, and agencies of government and reputable private organisations on how best to collaborate to resolve the food crisis in the country.

“Relatedly, Nigerian Army troops currently provide security cover for farmers in critical farming communities in the Northeast, Northwest, and Northcentral zones.

“This is to prevent the devastating consequences of a pause or stop in food production in those regions on the entire country’s food supply chain,” he said.