The Nigerian Army in collaboration with its British counterpart yesterday commenced the training of 150 warrant officers and senior non-commissioned officers.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the one week long command and leadership seminar, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Tukur Buratai said, training and retraining of its officers can not be over emphasised, particularly in the face of the current security challenges.
According to General Buratai who was represented by the Commander, Infantry Corps, Major General Sanusi Muazu, “there cannot be a professionally responsive Nigerian Army without an equally effective Warrant Officers’ and Senior Non-commissioned officers’ cadre.
“As you are aware, the Nigerian Army in pursuant of its constitutional roles has been involved in tackling security challenges such as insurgency, terrorism, militancy, banditry, oil-pipeline vandalism and youth restiveness among others.”
“The most potent security challenges facing Nigeria in the past five years is the Boko Haram terrorist driven insurgency in the North East of the country.
“The Nigerian Army is the lead service in the counter insurgency operations in the North East with a theatre command comprising of 3 Division, 7 Division and a Nigerian Air Force Air Component.
“On my assumption as COAS in July 2015, I looked at the operation in the North East and initiated a new directive to achieve the defeat of the insurgency and restore normalcy to the North East”, Buratai stated.
He however reiterated the Nigerian Army’s resolve to meet the December deadline to end insurgency in the country.
In his remarks, the leader of the British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT), Lt. Col Stewart Howells who was once a Senior Non-commissioned Officer himself assured the participants of getting the best out of the one week training.
He equally posited that, Nigeria and British had for long enjoyed cordial bilateral ties, hence the need for Britain to send a team of military expertise to assist Nigeria in the fight against insurgency.
