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In a statement, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Army’s chief, assured Nigerians that the military will safeguard the nation’s democratic governance. He acknowledged that some groups may try to exploit the Army for their own purposes but vowed that the military would resist such attempts.
On Tuesday, August 27, 2024, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, reiterated the military’s commitment to Nigeria’s democratic principles during the opening remarks of the 2024 Chief of Army Staff combined second and third quarters conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
He assured attendees that the Army will resist pressure from groups attempting to undermine democratic governance.
Lieutenant General Lagbaja noted that the Nigerian Army is still working to rebuild its reputation after years of military rule. He emphasized that the Army has made significant progress in the past 25 years, establishing itself as a respected institution, and is determined to maintain its hard-won prestige.
Lieutenant General Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, addressed recent speculation about military intervention in governance, sparked by the #EndbadGovernance protests from August 1 to 10, by reiterating the Army’s dedication to safeguarding national unity and security.
“Another pertinent issue that came up during the recent protest is the call for undemocratic intervention in governance by the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“Although one can say this was coming from young Nigerians who never experienced the era of Nigeria’s extensive military rule and the concerted struggle by heroes and heroines of our current democratic dispensation to get the Nation on its current path.
“As Chief of Army Staff, my simple response to the call is, ‘Thanks, but no thanks!’ The Nigerian Army will not allow itself to be used to undemocratically sail some interests to power.
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“As the Service that received the most image bashing as a fallout of previous military interventions in Nigeria, the Nigerian Army is not poised to lose the new prestige it has painstakingly built in the past 25 years,” Lagbaja said.
Lieutenant General Lagbaja noted that the Nigerian Army’s mandate extends beyond countering physical threats like terrorism and oil theft to addressing the root causes of insecurity, including the emerging food crisis, which could have devastating consequences for national stability.
To this end, Lagbaja revealed that the Nigerian Army as a way of ensuring food security, was embarking on massive food production in partnership with the government and the private sector.
“Evidently, the situation that led to the protest seems to have settled, but the Nigerian Army understands that the issue of food security will remain on the front burner of our national security policy and discussions for a while.
“As a way of strengthening its soft power approach to resolving Nigeria’s food security challenge, the Nigerian Army will, in the coming days, review its agricultural policy to better position the Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Limited to significantly boost crop production so that the Army can release grains into the market at highly subsidized rate in support of government efforts.
“Furthermore, the Army Headquarters is reviewing some proposals for partnerships with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of government and reputable private organizations on how best to collaborate to resolve the food crisis in the country.
