President Bola Tinubu has expressed the commitment of his administration, to prioritising the needs of the Armed Forces, to enable them to play their constitutional roles without any hindrance.
Tinubu made this known while speaking at the trooping and presentation of colours in commemoration of the diamond jubilee anniversary of the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna, on Saturday.
According to him, the federal government was aware of the sacrifices that members of the Nigerian Armed Forces have continued to render across the length and breadth of the country, especially in the face of some daunting challenges.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the President restated the determination of the federal government to upscale the fight against insecurity, until every part of Nigeria was fully secured.
He explained that over the past six decades, the NDA had undergone various stages of transformation in its quest to fulfil its mandate of training for the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Tinubu pointed out that the creation of Postgraduate Studies, Research Centres and the Centre of Excellence to facilitate research and enable cross-fertilisation of ideas had made it an institution of choice for students within and around the globe.
He recalled that in the last three years, over forty different projects cutting across all sectors of the academy had been completed even in the face of dwindling resources.
According to the President, some of these projects included physical infrastructure, personnel and cadets’ welfare, improvement in the quality of training curriculum and provision of training equipment among others.
Mr Tinubu urged the academy to sustain quality academic and military training to attract prospective cadets not only from Africa.
The President who presented new national and regimental colours to the NDA, in the event which also witnessed a march past by the cadets, paid glowing tributes to Nigeria’s fallen heroes and assured them that their sacrifices would never be in vain.
He however assured Nigerians that the federal government would continue to push for the progress, unity and prosperity of the country.
His words: “Let me also add that although the war against the enemies of Nigeria is not over, it is fair to state that relative peace has been recorded across the major flash points. These successes have come at a price for the government and the populace. We remember our fallen heroes and those out in the trenches for the sake of our fatherland. Let us also celebrate their resilience and sacrifice at this diamond jubilee.
“I urge you to continue to play your constitutional role of safeguarding the territorial integrity of Nigeria, our fatherland. You must shun any acts that are inimical to the well-being of our nation and acts that can destroy the gains of democracy that we have enjoyed in the last 20 years.
“The government is fully aware of the service and sacrifices that members of the Nigerian Armed Forces have continued to render across the length and breadth of this country, especially in the face of daunting challenges. We, as a government, will continue to accord priority to the needs of the armed forces to enable the military to play its constitutional role without let or hindrance.
“Let me reiterate the urgency to upscale the fight against insecurity, which has robbed us of peace and progress. While the relative peace you have been able to secure is worth celebrating, you must remember that the war is not yet over until every parcel of land held by the enemy is flying the flag of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the President said.
