The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, has firmly stated that the Nigerian Army will not be used to undemocratically bring any interests to power.
Speaking on Tuesday at the 2024 Chief of Army Staff combined second and third quarters conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, Lagbaja emphasized that the Army is committed to upholding Nigeria’s unity and security, not seizing power.
Addressing calls for military intervention during the #EndbadGovernance protest held from August 1 to 10, Lagbaja noted that these demands were likely from younger Nigerians unfamiliar with the country’s history of military rule.
“As the Service that received the most image bashing as a fallout of previous military interventions in Nigeria, the Nigerian Army is not poised to lose the new prestige it has painstakingly built in the past 25 years,” Lagbaja stated.
He further outlined the Army’s ongoing efforts to tackle challenges such as terrorism, banditry, and crude oil theft. Lagbaja also highlighted a new initiative aimed at addressing the high cost of food in the country, which could lead to security concerns.
To this end, the Nigerian Army has begun a large-scale food production project in collaboration with the government and private sector. Lagbaja explained that this effort is part of a broader strategy to support the nation’s food security.
“The Nigerian Army will, in the coming days, review its agricultural policy to better position the Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Limited to significantly boost crop production so that the Army can release grains into the market at highly subsidized rates in support of government efforts,” he said.
He also mentioned ongoing discussions with various government agencies and private organizations to enhance collaboration in resolving the food crisis.
