CDS Assures Nigerians Of People Centered, Ethically Driven, Accountable Military

The Chief of Defence Staff CDS, General Olufemi Oluyede, has restated the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to a people-centred, ethically driven and professionally accountable military.

General Oluyede represented by
the Chief of Defence Standards and Evaluation, Major General Ibrahim Lassa, gave the assurance at the opening of the Human Security and Gender Advisers Course at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Asokoro, Abuja.

Commending the British Defence Staff for their continued support, the CDS said the partnership has contributed significantly to improving the AFN’s operational effectiveness, particularly in the area of civil-military relations.

He noted that the collaboration underscores the strong defence ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, founded on shared values and a commitment to modern, people-focused security approaches.

The Defence Chief observed that Nigeria’s security landscape remains complex and dynamic, driven by asymmetric threats, violent extremism, communal conflicts, transnational crimes and humanitarian challenges that directly affect civilians.

He stressed that contemporary security efforts must extend beyond territorial defence to include the protection of lives, preservation of human dignity and the strengthening of community resilience.

According to him, the training programme aligns with his strategic vision of strengthening the AFN through enhanced joint operations, improved operational readiness, better welfare initiatives and sound administration under a whole-of-government approach.

He encouraged participants to fully engage with the course, noting that the knowledge and skills acquired should be applied during operational planning, field deployments and interactions with civilian populations.

Earlier, the Chief of Defence Civil-Military Relations, Rear Admiral Saburi Lawal, described the course as a critical initiative aimed at improving the professional capacity of Nigeria’s security institutions.

He said participants were carefully selected to serve in advisory roles across the AFN, the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Rear Admiral Lawal expressed confidence that the training would strengthen professionalism, deepen civil-military cooperation and build trust between security agencies and the public.

PR/Aisha Adesanya