Boko Haram: Buhari assures on increased budgetary allocation to military

President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to improve funding for the country’s armed forces, through enhanced budgetary allocations.
This was as Buhari maintained that the insurgency besetting the North Eastern part of the country, was “inherently political in nature”. The President, however, commended the efforts of the Armed Forces in battling the insurgent elements.

Buhari made the positions on Monday in Abuja at the maiden Nigerian Air Force International Air Power Seminar holding at the NAF’s Officers’ Mess.

Chief of the Armed Forces once again assure the military that I will continue to ensure appropriate funding for our armed forces in order to enhance capacity building and deepen professionalism.

“We will continue to support the drive to modernize the armed forces through enhanced budgetary allocation in their quest to meet the constitutional demands of protecting Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. I therefore charge the armed forces, particularly the Nigerian Air Force not to rest on its oars in fulfilling this constitutional role.

“We are committed to enhancing the welfare of all service personnel to enable them give their utmost in their service to the nation. We are also committed to ensuring that our armed forces are appropriately trained and equipped to deal with the contemporary challenges of a globalised world, of which insurgency and terrorism have become of greatest concern. In the last few years, Government’s effort at re-professionalizing the armed forces for improved performance has yielded positive results.”

Also , Buhari revealed that the insurgency in the North East, was political in nature.

“It is common knowledge that even though we require substantial military input in combating an insurgency, its root cause is inherently political in nature”, the President said.
Apart from enhanced budgetary funding, the apreaident also pledged to improve on the welfare of service personnel, including training and retraining.

“The provision of modern equipment and motivation of personnel through enhanced welfare is ongoing and I am aware that training activities within the armed forces has improved tremendously.

He said, “It is important to stress that there has been steady improvement in the security situation in the North East where the Boko Haram activities have been confined in recent times. We have denied them the ability to hold territory and the freedom of movement to operate at will and they now resort to skeletal attacks on soft targets.

“Our thoughs and prayers are always with the victims and families of the Boko Haram atrocities. We remain committed to ensuring that the crisis comes to an ends, while making the North East and indeed all parts of Nigeria safe for all to live and prosper.”

While expressing his appreciation to “all the countries represented at this gathering especially our partners and friends that have contributed in one way or the other towards the success of our
counterinsurgency operations”, the President “hoped that the quality of papers to be delivered and subsequent discussions would be highly beneficial to the Nigerian Air Force in particular, the Nigerian armed forces and Nigeria in general”.

Earlier in his welcome address the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said the NAF had continued to play active role in the counter-insurgency operations.

Apart from air strikes and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, the CAS disclosed that the Service also provides close air support to surface troops.

According to Abubakar, “Between 1 June 2015 and 31 October 2018, the Nigerian Air Force flew a total of 51,582 hours 15 minutes in 39,807 sorties to deliver the air power that has helped to keep the insurgents at bay and create an enabling environment for our surface forces to conduct their operations”.

He advised the public against falling to the propaganda of the insurgents, while urging them to be patriotic to the cause of defeating the criminal act.

“To succeed in irregular warfare, the role of the population where the war is fought is very critical. Government forces and the general population must see themselves as partners in progress, working together to restore peace and security. We must debunk the narratives of the terrorists and endear ourselves as patriots in the hearts and minds of the people. I would like to reiterate that based on our understanding of the nature of irregular warfare, the Nigerian Air Force and indeed the military have deployed massive non-kinetic means in the theatre of operation.

“The Nigerian Air Force has for several years hosted the Air Expo among other events. However, the security situation in Nigeria, the rapidly changing dynamics in the international arena and the changing approach to warfare require careful understanding of the threats and response options available for the projection of air power in addressing National Security imperatives.

“We therefore deem it necessary to host this International Air Power Seminar to serve as a platform for exchange of ideas on the way forward.”

According to the Air Chief, “The changing character of warfare has imposed the need for a change in the way armed forces approach warfare. While the engagement in conventional or regular warfare remains a possibility, the global predominant threat to nations has become more irregular in nature. Irregular warfare by its nature is asymmetric, and it covers a wide range of activities with insurgency and counter-insurgency operations at its core.

“The Nigerian military has been engaged in irregular warfare of recent particularly in its fight against the Boko Haram insurgents. Since the beginning of this decade, despite many challenges associated with this type of warfare, the Nigerian Air Force has over the years actively employed air power in dealing with security challenges facing the nation.”

He further noted that, “On assumption of duty, I envisioned the repositioning of the NAF into a highly professional and disciplined force through capacity building initiatives for effective, efficient and timely employment of air power in response to Nigeria’s national security imperatives. Mr President Sir, distinguished invited guests, permit me to observe that the Nigerian Air Force has consistently sought to actualize this laudable vision through collaboration with our worthy friends and partners to develop capacities in key areas required for our counter-insurgency operations.

“Similarly, we have made effort to optimize our local technology through research and development to meet our peculiar technological needs. All these and the sacrifices of our officers and men have contributed immensely to degrading the capacity of the insurgents considerably.

“A wide range of counter-insurgency operations have been conducted both singly and in coordination with other Services. While a series of air interdiction and close air support missions have been conducted against the insurgents, we have also conducted Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions, airlift operations, casualty and medical evacuations and other operations that exploit the peculiar characteristics of air power.”

Abubakar stated that:”…one of the motivations for hosting this seminar is the increasing realization of the overarching need for the application of air power in irregular warfare. However, because of its characteristics and wide ranging effects, air power could be devastating if misapplied. Also, it is not just enough to be effective, there is the need for efficiency in the application of air power. There is also the need for training on various air power specialties required to conduct irregular warfare. Thus, this Seminar has dedicated some time to consider issues associated with air power application, training as well as ethical concerns in the application of air power in irregular warfare.”

In his opening remarks the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali commended the NAF for the seminar, and the A”professional” manner the Service has been executing the war against Boko Haram.

“The Ministry of Defence on its part has not relented in its collaborative efforts in supporting the counterinsurgency efforts of other ministries like the ministries of Information, Health, Works as well as other departments and Agencies like the National Emergency Management Agency. Most of these collaborative efforts are facilitated by the Nigerian Air Force. The ministry will not relent in its support for the Services, especially the Nigerian Air Force, in recognition of its vital role in the success of the ongoing counterinsurgency operations.”

 

Stella Enenche, Abuja