COAS Conference: Defence Minister Harps on Need for Military to Remain Professional, Apolitical

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President Muhammadu Buhari Receiving a Plague from Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Farouk Yahaya.
President Muhammadu Buhari Receiving a Plague from Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Farouk Yahaya.

SOKOTO – (Federal Ministry of Defence Report) – The Minister of Defence, Bashir Salihi Magashi, Maj Gen (Rtd) has attributed the successes recorded in the various theatres of Military Operations in parts of the country to the support of the Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari.

Bashir Magashi (Maj Gen Rtd) stated this in his remarks at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference holding in Sokoto State. He said that the support of President Buhari to the military, especially to the Nigerian Army has improved the Fire Power of the Service which he said has accounted for the tremendous operational achievements in curtailing the criminal activities in the country.

While commending the leadership of the Nigerian Army under the watch of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Farouk Yahaya, he tasked the Officers and personnel to remain professional and apolitical, particularly as the 2023 elections get underway.

Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi Reading His Remarks at the Army Conference in Sokoto
Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi Reading His Remarks at the Army Conference in Sokoto

On his part, the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal (Rt Honourable) thanked the leadership of the Nigerian Army for the hosting right accorded Sokoto for the conference which he said has greatly improved the internal security architecture within his area of responsibility.

Also speaking, the Chief of Army Staff, Farouk Yahaya (Lt General) in his opening remarks said that the theme of the conference: “Building a Professional Nigerian Army for the Twenty- first Century Security Environment” is carefully chosen to meet contemporary challenges. He further said that the annual conference provides a platform to take stock of the performance score-card of the Nigerian Army and to galvernise the efforts of the service in the right direction to totally defeat the adversaries in collaboration with other Services.

Group Picture of President Muhammadu Buhari (M), Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi, Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Farouk Yahaya, Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal and Other Dignitaries at the Conference in Sokoto
Group Picture of President Muhammadu Buhari (M), Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi, Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Farouk Yahaya, Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal and Other Dignitaries at the Conference in Sokoto

The Conference which was declared open by the Special Guest of Honour, President Muhammadu Buhari featured the presentation of the Nigerian Army recognition awards to six distinguished Nigerians, including the Former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Lt Gen) for the unprecedented transformational achievements of the Service under his watch.

SIGNED:
Mohammad Abdulkadri
Special Assistant to the Minister of Defence on Media and Publicity