Army to utilise NADEL 2016 celebrations to sharpen skills, review strategies- Buratai
As part of activities to mark the Nigerian Army Day celebration,(NADCEL) 2016, the Nigerian Army says, its commemorative activities outlined in respect to the celebration would help in deepening its operational strategies and advance the fight against the insurgency.
Tukur Buratai, Chief of Army Staff, gave the information while briefing newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, revealing also that the Army would evaluate and harness key lessons from its previous operational strategies in fighting the insurgency during the NADCEL celebrations.
The theme for this year’s NADCEL which is “Optimizing the Capability of the Nigerian Army to meet Contemporary Security Challenges.”, emphasises the resoluteness with which the army is fighting to bring the menace of Boko Haram to an end and restore peace and normalcy to the North East as well as other parts of the country, the Army Chief noted.
Subsequently, the Nigerian Army uses the NADCEL week, which terminates on 6th July every year to reflect on its performances in the previous year, for more effective projections and performance in the following year”
This is usually premised on the lessons drawn from the activities of the previous year in pursuant of the Nigeria Army responsibility of maintaining and defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria as well as safeguarding lives and property of its citizenry.
While previewing some of the key achievements of the Military within the past one year, Buratai said, ” the relocation of the Military Command and Control Centre (MCCC) to the epicenter of the operations theatre for effective prosecution of the ongoing fight against insurgency as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari has been fully complied with”
This has provided the Military Command with more theatre visibility, effective command and control, resulting in continual decimation of the remaining insurgents. The Nigeria Army working in concert with other Services and agencies has firmly reasserted its control over our territory where the insurgents had in the past exercised freedom of action”
It would be noted that this year’s NADCEL is in two phases, while the First Phase commenced earlier from 11th to 20th April, 2016 with activities reinforcing the need to shore up fighting capabilities and responsiveness of our troops by injecting into its programme, a Command Post Exercise (CPX).
The Second Phase which kick-starts from 11 – 14 July, 2016 would have the troops of 1 Brigade engage in a Field Training Exercise (FTX) involving realistic and varying war situations in Bakura Forest, Gusau Zamfara State”the army said.
Other activities earmarked for the celebrations would have the army embark into medical outreach which would take place concurrently in all formations of the Nigerian Army.
The army Chief also explained that the exercises to be embarked on as part of commemoration activities would sharpen the tactical skills of individual officers and soldiers, as well as improve the operational readiness of the formation.
He explained that key opportunities such equipment and weapons testing,which the celebration presents would also serve to sharpen the tactical skills of individual officers and soldiers, as well as improve the operational readiness of the formation.