The General Officer Commanding the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Major General Shehu Yusuf has described the current effort to review the National Defence Policy as a major step towards strengthening the country’s defence mechanism.
The 82 Division boss, who spoke at a Public Presentation on the Review of Nigeria’s National Defence Policy in Enugu, pointed out that when reviewed, the Defence Policy would fall in line with global best practices and improve the country’s defence strategies.
He added that at the end of the review, the Nigeria military would be better off in it’s operation against security challenges in the country.
General Yusuf expressed optimism that the review would bring about a vibrant and robust National Defence Policy that would equip the nation’s military and make it more efficient.
He commended the Federal Government for initiating the idea.
Earlier, A member of the Presidential Committee on the Review of Nigeria’s National Defence Policy, Professor, Uchendu Egodi, who led the team to Enugu, disclosed that the objective of the Public Presentation was to bring together Nigerians from different sectors of our national life to make impute and partake in the review of our National Defence Policy.
Professor Egodi, a renowned historian, expressed hope that at the end of the assignment, a more vigorous, proactive and people oriented Defence Policy that all Nigerians would be proud of would evolve.
According to her, the National Defence Policy was inaugurated on the 20th November 2014 to assist the government assess the state of it’s defence organisation, mandate, capabilities and design, with a view to identifying area requiring review and to suggest future interventions.
She described the National Defence Policy as an important document that provides guidance to governments about a country’s short, medium and long term policy settings and capabilities.
The policy, she added, allows the government and citizenry to understand the opportunities and challenges for the country’s future and defence and security needs.
The current National Defence Policy, she continued, was promulgated in 2006, stating that since then, the nation had undergone a lot of transformation in terms of developments as well as security challenges.
She added that, “it provides general guidelines for the employment of the Armed Forces in particular and National Resources in general to maintain the country,s territorial integrity, protect her from external aggression and facilitate the achievements of her national interests.
On further needs for the review, she said, “There are also new developments and challenges in the global environment that have direct impact on our security and national defence”.
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