President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has identified poverty, unemployment, poor education and social disintegration as notable drivers of conflicts, saying his administration is committed to building a secure, stable and prosperous Nigeria.
Tinubu spoke on Saturday at the passing-out ceremony for cadets of the 73rd Regular Course (Army, Navy and Air Force), Short Service Course 49 (Army), Direct Short Service Course 34 (Air Force) and Branch Commission Course 3 (Air Force) at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
The President, who was represented by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, said addressing the underlying causes of insecurity remained an important component of the government’s non-kinetic strategy.
He identified job creation, macroeconomic stability, human capital development and social protection as measures being pursued alongside security operations.
‘Despite the diverse challenges our dear country has been confronted with, my administration has remained steadfast, focused and committed to building a secure, stable and prosperous Nigeria,’ he said.
Tinubu said the government would continue to strengthen measures aimed at addressing socioeconomic conditions that could contribute to conflict and insecurity.
He urged the newly commissioned officers to uphold professionalism, discipline and loyalty in the discharge of their responsibilities.
‘Through the continuous and surgical application of all elements of national power, including, and most importantly, the military, we have continued to stabilise the situation, improving our responses and expanding as well as modifying our interventions, which thankfully are yielding desired outcomes.
‘We aptly recognise that kinetic military operations alone cannot defeat insecurity since poverty, unemployment, poor education, and social disintegration are notable drivers of conflicts. That is why under the Renewed Hope Agenda, we are pursuing job creation, macroeconomic stability, human capital development, and social protection in tandem with our security efforts.’
The President said his administration is also enhancing Nigeria’s regional and global collaborations and cooperations, due to the transnational nature of the threats. He also said Nigeria will continue to provide leadership and assistance to fellow countries in West Africa.
According to him, ‘Nigeria will continue to enhance our commitments to democracy and stability in our region and indeed globally. Despite the setbacks in the cooperation within the subregion, especially in the Sahel, Nigeria under my leadership, through the auspices of ECOWAS and other regional bodies, will continue to pursue inclusive diplomacy, security cooperation, and economic integration.
‘Consequently, with the military’s unalloyed support for democratic governance, Nigeria’s continental and regional leadership role will continue to be upheld and intensified.
‘We remain opposed to unconstitutional changes of government, however we will not abandon our brothers and sisters in Mali, Niger, or Burkina Faso. Preserving five decades of ECOWAS achievements, covering free movement, trade, and regional coordination, is essential to our collective security and prosperity.’
The President since the establishment of the NDA in 1964, the institution has lived up to the expectations of its founding fathers and the nation and has evolved in line with nascent security challenges by developing a training curriculum which blends military training and academics with a focus on character development.
President Tinubu also said that a critical aspect of this is a realistic and enhanced Counter-Terrorism and Counterinsurgency training designed to suit contemporary security challenges. This, he noted, is in addition to the rapid integration of technology into training and research.
The President Tinubu who acknowledged that some NDA cadets are undergoing military training in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Brazil, and France said, ‘I am particularly encouraged that the Nigerian Defence Academy is increasingly receiving international recognition through invitations extended to its cadets to participate in highly competitive military cadet competitions in the United States, Brazil, and most recently, the People’s Republic of China.
‘Such invitations are earned through demonstrated excellence. They attest to the remarkable improvements in the Academy’s training standards, professionalism, and global standing, while affirming that Nigeria is producing officers capable of competing and excelling alongside the very best military institutions in the world.’
The President added that the Academy equally continues to serve as a regional hub for military education by training cadets from several African countries, including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, The Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.
‘These engagements strengthen military diplomacy, deepen professional cooperation, and reaffirm Nigeria’s leadership in defence education and capacity development across the African continent,’ he said.