The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday, in Jaji, Kaduna State, said the last 12 years have been “very challenging” for the country, considering the different security threats that have been confronting it.
He also promised that his regime will ramp up support for the military to “wipe out terrorists off the face of the earth” and bring peace to the country.
According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President spoke at the graduation of 247 students of the Senior Course 44 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.
The statement was titled, ‘President Buhari lauds combat readiness, operational capability of Nigerian military, pledges more support in fight against insurgency.’
It quoted the President as appraising the ongoing collaboration of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger Republic, Benin Republic and Chad in a multinational operation to combat the Boko Haram insurgency in the Lake Chad region.
Buhari said, “This occasion provides me another opportunity to briefly reflect on the state of the Nigerian nation, particularly regarding national security.
“The last 12 years have been very challenging for our nation, considering the different security threats that have besieged the country.
“Our government is poised to promote national security and development, as well as to remain committed to promoting a vision of a secure, safe, just, peaceful, prosperous and strong Nigeria.”
To the graduating students, the President said, ‘‘It will be part of your duty to confront these terrorists and insurgents and wipe them off the face of the earth and bring peace to our countries.”
He praised the Nigerian Armed Forces who, he noted, are “working tirelessly to enhance their combat effectiveness, operational capability and training necessary to eliminate the threats, in synergy with other institutions and nations.”
Earlier, in his welcoming remarks, the Commandant of the College, Air Vice-Marshall, Olurotimi Tuwase, explained that 111 Army officers, 69 naval officers, 42 air force officers, 10 students from paramilitary organisations and Ministries, Department and Agencies as well as 15 international students completed the 48 weeks intensive training, leading to the award of Pass Staff Course.
Tuwase added that the international students on the Senior Course 44 were from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo and Zambia.
The Commandant thanked the President for his unflinching support to the College, noting that students from the prestigious school have been sufficiently trained and equipped to cope with most challenges in their career, with the staff and leadership skills acquired in the College.
At the event, Buhari presented PSC certificates and awards to select graduates as well as the best graduating students.
The President, thereafter, departed Kaduna for his hometown in Daura. He is expected back in Abuja on Saturday.
