CDS General
Olonisakin
Britain Trains
CDS General
Olonisakin
Britain Trains Nigeria Military, Paramilitary Officers
on Joint Campaign
In an effort to build operational capacity in the Armed Forces
of Nigeria, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), in collaboration with
the British Advisory Training Team (BMATT) has commenced a Joint
Campaign Planning Course for selected military and paramilitary
officers, including high operational level staff of Ministries,
Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government.
The course was inaugurated at the Defence Intelligence College,
Abuja on Monday 13 May 2019, by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS),
General Gabriel Abayomi Olonisakin, where he emphasized the need
for more effective collaboration among security agencies in
tackling insecurity in the country.
He said the main goal of the Joint Operational Planning Course is
to further promote efficiency in joint operations, as participants
are expected to gain in-depth knowledge on campaign planning
necessary for joint military operations. At the end of the course,
the participants would be well grounded in the integrated concepts
of joint operational planning.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony of the course, the
CDS, who was represented by the Director Campaign Planning, DHQ,
Major General Benjamin Ahanotu, said the course will address the
various lapses witnessed in previous and ongoing joint operations,
especially, in counter terrorism and counter insurgency
operations.
General Ahanotu added that the participants would gain further
insight into the principles and processes of joint operational
campaign planning. He noted further that “tardiness and inadequate
cooperation in joint operational campaign planning,” would also be
addressed by the participants during the course.
Speaking on the internal security and peace keeping efforts by
the Armed Forces, the CDS said, joint planning was paramount in the
ongoing campaigns, which he described as “asymmetric warfare”. He
pointed out that “military effort alone, could not restore internal
peace and security,” saying that synergy and collaboration from the
police, paramilitary and MDAs was imperative.
Commenting on the training collaboration between Nigeria and
United Kingdom, the CDS, commended the efforts of the BMATT towards
building the capacity of the Nigerian Armed Forces in order to
address its internal security challenges and urged the participants
to therefore take full advantage of the course to enhance their
knowledge on joint campaign planning.
On his part, the BMATT facilitator, Wing Commander Nick Limb,
expressed optimism that the training would stimulate series of
discussions, as well as intellectual and mental exercises which
will assist Nigeria to tackle security challenges in a more complex
environment, given the new trend of insecurity around the
globe.
Wing Commander Limb commended the current DHQ leadership for
what he described as “bringing together better cooperation and
integration between all arms of military, non-military elements,
security services and other agencies of government with a view to
empowering them on joint campaign planning.
The course which is expected to last for 2 weeks, is the 6th
Batch of participants being trained by DHQ in partnership with
BMATT.
It would be recalled that the DHQ recently concluded a Training
Conference from 8 – 9 May 2019 at the National Defence College
Abuja, where the need for joint training and collaboration between
the military and other security agencies was emphasised by
participants.
ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
Colonel
Acting Director Defence Information