The Combat Support forces of the Nigerian Army must be at the top of the game of providing intelligence, communications, engineering, and fire support services that have an immediate impact on the course of the battle.
The Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja stated this while declaring open, the Combat Support Arms Training (COSAT) Week 2024 at the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering in Makurdi, the Benue State capital on Tuesday 4 June 2024.
At the event, General Lagbaja reminded those present that in today's complex, non-linear, highly unpredictable, and ambiguous operating environment, Combat Arms of the Nigerian Army (NA) require robust and reliable support to function effectively, achieve military strategic, operational, as well as tactical objectives.
In a statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu the Army Chief expressed delight that the Nigerian Army can today, boast of a highly efficient, competent, adaptive, and resourceful Combat Support Corps, that over the years, have contributed immensely to its operational successes within and outside the country.
Giving a review of the critical roles of the Combat Support Arms, the COAS pointed out, that while the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery has consistently provided necessary fire support to troops' operations, the Nigerian Army Engineers helped the forces to live, move, and fight.
He further stated that the Nigerian Army Signals has provided effective communications to aid command and control and even fight in the cyberspace in defence of the combat forces and the nation.
The Chief of Army Staff said Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps, has lived up to its vital responsibility of gathering and providing intelligence in both conventional and asymmetric operations.
Gen Lagbaja declared that altogether, the four Combat Support Corps have individually and collectively lived up to expectations in the Nigerian Army’s training and operational endeavors. He however cautioned, that despite the achievements, there is always room for improvement due to the dynamic political, economic, physical, technological environment, as well the ever changing character of war in itself.
He said through the Combat Support Corps must partner both governmental and non-governmental institutions to continue to embark on viable research and developmental drives that will propel the application of emerging technologies to support NA operations.
In a goodwill message to the troops, the Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, lauded the troops for their sacrifices in the operational theaters across the country. He described the COSAT Week as another step in the right direction to leverage on emerging technologies in order to improve military operations in the efforts to address the nefarious activities of non-state actors.
He observed that the NA has blossomed into a reputable force to reckon with on the African continent and globally. He assured that the people and Government of Benue State will continue to support the ideals of the NA in its quest for security development. Governor Alia noted that the NA’s operational synergy with other security agencies have brought about relative peace in Benue and the contiguous states.
The Vice Chancellor Summit University, Offa, Kwara State, Professor Abiodun Musa Aibinu, who gave the keynote address on the topic "Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Robust Combat Support to the Nigerian Army" enjoined the NA to waste no time in incorporating emerging technologies into its operations in tackling threats to national security.
The Commander Corps of Engineers, Major General Philip Eromosele had earlier revealed that the COSAT aims at enhancing operational efficiency of Combat Supports Corps as well as to deliberate and profer solutions, while leaning on emerging technologies as a panacea for operational efficiency in the fight against national threats.
He explained further, that the COSAT presents an opportunity for Combat Suppprt Corps of the NA to appraise their performance under the Chief of Army Staff’s Command Philosophy.
The event attracted critical stakeholders in the Science and Technology, as well as Research Development sectors. Equally gracing the event were the Chairman Senate Committee on Army Alhaji Abdulazeez Musa Yar' Adua, Vice Chairman House Committee on Army Hon David Ogewu and the
representative of the Minister of Innovation and Technology.
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