Now that PMB replaces Service Chiefs-Abba Dukawa

At a very early stage of the former Service Chiefs, they boldly declared that the militants had been Technically Defeated. But the technical victory”, apparent, became a great cost to have been worthwhile for the victor.  This acclaimed victory came with the renewed wave of attacks by the insurgents on soft targets.

The appointment of the new service chiefs came at a period when the country was facing serious security challenges.

Definitely, Nigerians have received these changes as something long overdue. If we can recall  Mr. President expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of his former Service Chiefs when he told them Point-Blank that their “best is not good enough and even the National Assembly  was not left out with a passage of a vote of no confidence on the Service Chiefs; talk less of ordinary  Nigerians of all walks of life had called on the President to sack the former Service Chiefs for Non-Performance.

Challenge before New Nigeria’s Service Chiefs.

Much is expected from them, therefore, need for them to hit the ground running by tackling the worsening insecurity across the country which is making life difficult for Nigerians. Nigerians expect a total  Victory against all form of insecurity across the shore of the federation, not Technical Victory. Nigerians want to see a different approach in terms of choosing the right personnel to dispense with the responsibilities of safeguarding the country.

The intelligence gathering structures and efforts of nearly all the security and law enforcement agencies have almost made the war ineffective, due to Lack of critical role of intelligence sharing in ongoing efforts to overcome security threats in the country among all the securities agencies.

There is  need for them  to have good synergy among themselves and ensure professionalism in handling of sensitive intelligence gathering as there is deficiency and uncoordinated acts in handling sensitive intelligence. To avoid the infighting of supremacy  we witness between NSA and others

Last year there were trending videos include high-ranking military officer and some soldiers criticising former Chief of Army Staff, for not supplying them with needed weapons and ammunition to combat the  terrorists which contribute  dismal performance of the personal ill-equipped and Ill-motivated.

Therefore the same mistake should not be repeated while the federal government is to continue equipping the armies, arrest and prosecute individuals found guilty of aiding and sponsoring of insurgents, kidnappers and bandits.

Read Also:PHOTOS: New Service chiefs make first trip to Borno, meet Zulum

On their part, they needed to bear onerous task of restoring the nation’s security and should positioned to deal decisively with all forms of threats to security of the people considering  their competence by virtue of their military trainings.

The Chief of Defence, is a veteran and former commander of the counter-insurgency operation in the Northeast and Multinational Joint Task Forces that have brought a feeling of optimism, particularly in the Northeast. He will need to focus on improving coordination between the Armed Forces in furtherance of military operations currently ongoing in the different geopolitical zones — comprising ground, air and naval components.

Alongside the capacity of the Defence Headquarters Special Operations Force. Chief of Army Staff a one-time Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, will be facing a difficult task of rapidly rebuilding morale and recalibrating the operations of the army.

There is a need for the armies leadership to focus on welfare and begin immediate relief for troops in all theatres that have been deployed longer than two years. Rotate units first and then open a channel for individual soldiers or officers who may have been missed in the exercise to rotate out. To achieve the desired result they need to fix the operational tour minimum of one year in the country.

Overall, the military alone cannot provide long-term security and stability or replace the role of effective law enforcement and political will to solve the social, economic and developmental drivers and amplifiers of insecurity across the country.

 Dukawa write in from Kano can be reached atabbahydukawa@gmail.com