We will protect and defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity - Army Chief

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Azubuike Ihejirika has said the Army is ever ready to protect and defend the country’s territory integrity, the current security challenges not withstanding.


Ihejirika gave the assurance yesterday when he received members of the Senate Committee on Defence and Army at the Army Headquarters.

The Army chief told the committee of the establishment of a Nigerian Army language school where French is being taught.

According to him, the fact that Nigeria is surrounded by Francophone countries in many of its borders necessitated the establishment of the school, in view of the current security challenges.

Ihejirika also informed the lawmakers that the Nigerian Army was denied the leadership of the United Nations Intervention Force in Mali on the ground that qualified officers of the Nigerian Army could not speak French.

He added that the school would teach French and Arabic to enable officers and men avail themselves the opportunity to learn other languages outside the English language.

The Army chief hinted that in the near future, one of the considerations for appointments in the Army would be proficiency in one other language besides English.

He observed that the inability of officers and men to understand French and other major foreign language has adversely affected cooperation with neighbouring countries.

Ihejirika lamented that lack of funds had slowed down the execution of various projects in the Army, assuring however, that the projects would be embarked upon as soon as funds are made available.

He told the lawmakers that the newly established 7 Division of the Army was tailored towards counter insurgency operations in the northeastern states.

According to him, there were constraints in moving troops from Jos, Plateau State to troubled areas in the northeast, particularly Maiduguri, Borno State, which he said is bigger in size than some African countries.

Chairman of the Senate committee, Senator George Sekibo said his committee would a tour of the various project sites of the Army to ascertain theblevelmof performance.