The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Defence (MoD), Dr Ibrahim Kana says the implementation of Nigeria’s defence policy is critical to the security and well-being of the country.
A statement on Tuesday by Mrs Victoria Agba-Attah, Director Press and Public Relations, MoD, said Kana made the remarks at the National Defence College, Abuja in a delivered lecture on the topic “Defence Policy Implementation in Nigeria”, for participants of Course 31 of the College.
According to him, “Defence policy implementation is very critical to our national security as it plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and security of our citizens, as well as the integrity of our nation.”
He said one of the most important functions of the federal government was to provide the framework for managing the nation’s security architecture and protecting citizens, saying however, that
stakeholders must synergise to ensure that the policy works.
“The implementation of defence policy is a complex and multifaceted task that requires the coordination and cooperation of various stakeholders, both within and outside the military establishment,” he added, noting that
Nigeria, like many other nations, has been faced with several security challenges, such as terrorism, insurgency, communal conflicts, organised crimes, violent extremism, among others.
He said these challenges could be tackled through comprehensive and integrated approach that involves formulating and implementing appropriate defence policies.
Kana said that the Nigerian government had developed various defence policies which had been instrumental to the relative peace and security in the country.
The permanent Secretary assured the participants that the ministry was committed to ensuring that defence policies were effectively implemented for the benefit of all Nigerians.
According to him, the future direction of Nigeria’s defence policy will be to prioritise counterterrorism and counter-insurgency, regional cooperation, and maritime security.
Other priorities, he said, should be on cyber security, modernisation and technological advancements for security agencies, peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance and civil-military relations.
In his remarks, Commandant of the College, Rear Admiral O.M. Olotu commended the PS for doing justice to the topic.
He said that his thoughts on the defence policy of Nigeria would give brighter direction to the nation’s defence sector.
Olotu added that the lecture would be of great benefit to the 113 participants of Course 31, in the discharge of their duties.