As a follow-up to an earlier meeting where he
demanded a containment plan to end insurgency in the North-east from the
service chiefs, President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday ordered the procurement of
military equipment for the armed forces.
He also ordered the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.
General Yusuf Buratai, to relocate to North-east and remain there until the
situation improves.
As a booster to the welfare needs of the armed
forces, the President also approved the promotion of senior officers due to
move to the next rank.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel
Olonishakin, and the army chief were
mandated to effect leadership changes in operational commands across the country.
This is coming as Buratai said military commanders
knew what is required of them in the 2019 general election.
The decisions were contained in a statement issued
at the end of the Army Council and Navy Board meetings held in Abuja.
The meeting was presided by the Minister of
Defence, Mansur Mohammed Dan-Ali.
The presidential directive was anchored on the federal
government's policy of procurement from original manufacturers on "government-to-government
basis.
"The president and Commander-in-Chief of the
Armed Forces has also directed the emergency procurement of critical equipment
for the Armed Forces of Nigeria in line with the federal government policy of
procuring equipment from original equipment manufacturers through government-to-government
basis.
"The Minister of Defence, Mansur Muhammad
Dan-Ali, met with the CDS and Service Chiefs yesterday at the Ship House,
Headquarters of Ministry of Defence, and consequently directed the COAS to
remain in the Northeast until security situation improves.
"Similarly, the General Officer Commanding of the
8 Division, Nigerian Army, was also directed to relocate his Tactical
Headquarters from Sokoto to Gusau, Zamfara State, to oversee the conduct of
Operation Sharan Daji.
"The Council/Board also considered and
approved the promotion of qualified senior military officers to their next
higher ranks. In a related development and a show of concern to the welfare
needs of members of the armed forces, the president has directed the
enhancement of the welfare of troops particularly those serving in operational
areas within the country.
"The CDS and COAS were also mandated to effect
changes in the operational commands of Operations Delta Safe in the Niger
Delta; Lafiya Dole in the North East; Sharan Daji in Zamfara and Katsina States
and Awatse in the Southwest. This is to enable them meet up with the current
threats and security challenges in their areas of responsibility," the
statement signed by the Public Relations Officer to the Minister of Defence,
Colonel Tukur Gusau, said.
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