COAS Urges Security Agencies to Innovate and Adapt as Nigeria Faces Evolving Threats
By Matthew Eloyi
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has called on top military and security agencies in Nigeria to adopt innovative strategies and adapt to the nation’s recurring security challenges.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of participants of the Strategic Management and Policy Studies Course 6/2023 at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) in Abuja, Lagbaja, represented by the Chief of Training (Army), Maj.-Gen. Sani Mohammed emphasized the need for continuous development of human capital to address complex security issues.
“The course is part of our commitment to enhancing the knowledge, skills, and competencies of our personnel, enabling them to formulate, implement, and evaluate policies, as well as manage human and material resources effectively,” Lagbaja stated.
He highlighted the importance of capacity development in maintaining relevance and driving growth within organizations, particularly in a rapidly changing environment.
“Capacity development is crucial for any organization that intends to be relevant and has a vision for growth or the aspiration of producing a positive impact in the ever-evolving and dynamic modern environment,” he said.
Lagbaja urged the graduates, who occupy strategic leadership positions, to apply the knowledge gained from the course in managing their organizations effectively. “This programme has given you the tools for adaptation and thinking out-of-the-box,” he charged.
Former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau praised the 11-month training for enhancing the participants’ capacities. He stressed the importance of collaboration among military and other security agencies, noting that security requires both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches.
Dambazau said, “Security has a wide angle that requires the collaboration of the military with all other security agencies… each participant of this course is armed enough with the information and training to perform better.”
The Director-General of NARC, retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, also noted that the course challenged participants to analyze policies and outcomes critically. He emphasized the need for a societal approach to addressing challenges, such as protests in Nigeria and other parts of the world.