The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Tukur Buratai, made this known in a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja.
The Army Chief said that Nigerian Army as a force has the constitutional mandate to maintain the country’s territorial integrity.
Therefore, a succinct reminiscence on the history of the Nigerian Army is desirable as my point of departure, to aptly illustrate the milestones so far covered by our noble institution.
He said the history of the Nigerian Army could be traced to 1863, when Lieutenant Glover of the Royal Navy organized 18 indigenes of Northern Nigerian into a local force known as the “Glover Hausas”.
“This local force metamorphosed and eventually became part of a larger body established by Lord Fredrick Lugard in 1889, which was named the West African Frontier Force (WAFF) in 1890.
“The Nigerian Army has since then undergone several transformations with consequent changes in name and structure which include the Nigerian Regiment, Queen’s Own Nigerian Regiment, and the Nigerian Military Force.
“At Nigeria’s Independence in 1960, it became known as the Royal Nigerian Army, and finally the “Nigerian Army” in 1963, when Nigeria attained Republican Status. He added.
Buratai said that NADCEL is an annual event which was first celebrated on 6th July 1978, in solemn remembrance of that historic first shot on 6th July, 1967 which marked the commencement of the country’s 30-month Civil War to keep Nigeria one.
“It was equally to bring to the knowledge of all Nigerian Army personnel and indeed all Nigerians the fact that the war was an unfortunate tragedy and the reconciliation afterwards should be instrumental to the strengthening of our national unity.” He said.
He said the Nigerian Army uses the NADCEL week to reflect on its performances in the previous year, for more effective projections and performance.
According to him, this is usually premised on the lessons drawn from the activities of the previous year in pursuant of the NA’s responsibility of maintaining and defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria as well as safeguarding lives and property of its citizenry.
Buratai said that this responsibility has become compelling particularly in view of the multifaceted security challenges.
He said that the relocation of the Military Command and Control Centre (MCCC) to the epicentre of the operations theatre which was a directive by President Muhammadu Buhari, has provided the Military Command with more theatre visibility, effective command and control, resulting in continual decimation of the remaining insurgents.
“It is also worthy of note that in line with my vision which is “to have a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles,” we have made remarkable achievements within the last one year including human rights awareness. Buratai said.
The Army Chief reiterated that the Nigerian Army under his leadership will continue to respect all aspects of human rights as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as other international principles and guidelines on the subject.
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