President Muhammadu Buhari says the sacrifices of the Armed Forces remain appreciated by Nigerians, commending the patriotic role they played in maintaining law and order at the just concluded presidential and National Assembly elections.

Buhari, who virtually commissioned 700 Ashok Leyland Troop Carrying Vehicles assembled in Lagos from his country home in Daura, Katsina State on Friday, pledged more support for the welfare of the military, assuring that their “labour will not be in vain”.

“I wish to commend the resolve of our armed forces towards the defeat of insurgency and its support in maintaining law and order as was demonstrated in the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections.

“I want to assure you all that your labour will not be in vain. The administration will continue to support you in every respect, including improving your welfare,” the President stated.

He said the war against terrorism and criminality in the country will be sustained and boosted with supplies of hardware and better care for the security operatives.

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“Moving forward, I charge you to consolidate on the gains we have achieved, towards sustaining the peace and stability of the country.

“Let me firmly assure Nigerians that the Federal Government remains steadfast and committed to winning the war against insurgency and other criminalities. Surely, the Federal Government will not rest on its oars until Nigeria and indeed Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora are free from the menace of terrorism and other forms of harm,” President Buhari added.

Buhari noted that the vehicles would increase the capability of the Armed Forces, especially their combat efficiency levels.

The President said the activities of non-state actors and transnational criminals had impacted the overall security architecture of the nation, noting that the threats were not peculiar to Nigeria.

“These threats are not peculiar to Nigeria alone; they have impacted negatively on global, regional and sub–regional peace and security environments, giving rise to massive continental immigration, internally displaced persons and grave humanitarian crises for nations to grapple with.

“Consequently, most governments employ varying degrees of hard and soft power elements to curtail this prevailing insecurity,” President Buhari said.

Buhari, however, thanked the Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir Salihi Magashi (Rtd), the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, and personnel of the Armed Forces for the milestone achievements.

In his remarks, the Minister of Defence said security of the country remains top priority for the government, adding that the supplies and welfare of the military will be sustained.

Magashi explained that the procurement of the vehicles followed Executive Order Number 5, saying the partnership between the private sector and the military has translated into the delivery of better equipment for more precision and efficiency of security operations.

The minister noted that the company had also offered training of the engineers of the military on usage and maintenance.

Magashi thanked President Buhari for his interventions in ensuring a repositioning of the Armed Forces, with the acquisition of hardware like jets, ships, and patrol boats, and providing dynamic and exemplary leadership.

The Star