A new narrative for Nigerian Army

Often times, I hear Nigerians refer to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and leader of the counter insurgency operations in Nigeria, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai as the digital Army Chief. Since his appointment in July 2015, Gen. Buratai has never relented on his oars to restructure, reorganize and reposition the Nigeria Army (NA) […]

Often times, I hear Nigerians refer to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and leader of the counter insurgency operations in Nigeria, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai as the digital Army Chief.

Since his appointment in July 2015, Gen. Buratai has never relented on his oars to restructure, reorganize and reposition the Nigeria Army (NA) which will be a pride to the military and the nation. He has never concealed his contempt and disdain for the poor shape and status of the Army he met, which was peopled by unprofessional, undisciplined, disloyal and unpatriotic personnel. Nigeria had soldiers who were uncommitted and irresponsible. They flinched at the battlefield regrettably.

Gen. Buratai instantly promised to change the narrative. His mission in leading the NA has been to re-organize and restructure the Army institution in a manner that would make it responsible and responsive to the national security challenges confronting the nation. And it is easy to see clearly the impact of Gen. Buratai’s leadership of the NA as manifest in reforms and innovations as confirmed by the performance of Army personnel on national assignments.

The Army Chief knew that the excellence of soldiers is only determined by constant training, knowledge update and exposure to latest technology in warfare. I saw his interest in establishing special schools for the NA and upgrading facilities in existing ones as the pursuit of this agenda. The Nigerian Army Aviation School and the Nigeria Army University, Biu (NAUB) are some of the practical statements the Army boss has made on his passion for the country to have a properly trained Army personnel.

With the manner Nigeria was pleasurably celebrated in degeneration before the Buhari Presidency, it never struck me that the narrative will change this soon to have the Nigerian Army School of Artillery revived to now manufacture weapons. The school functioned only in name, but I was amazed to understand, the school now source materials locally to manufacture some of the weapons troops use in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast and elsewhere in Nigeria.

This is the expectation of President Muhammadu Buhari when he opted for the choice of Gen. Buratai as COAS. The Army boss has also changed the tradition of de-prioritizing the welfare of troops. Salaries and allowances are paid promptly. Army barracks or formations around the country have gone renovations as part of Buratai’s bargain for decent accommodation for Army personnel.

And I noticed that among the three arms of the Nigerian military, the Nigerian Army was first to get its Account Department to key into the Federal Government’s  policy of Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the  Integrated Personnel Payment System (IPPS) to enhance quick and easy computation of salaries, ensure transparency and eliminate any possible  fraud in the preparation of emoluments of NA personnel.

That the  Islamic State West Africa Province (Boko Haram) has been unable to retake the territories the Army under Buratai’s leadership reclaimed in the Northeast   is indication that the NA reviews its strategies and tactics in the battle against insurgents frequently. Insurgents have tried hard to break new grounds, but they are checkmated by Nigerian troops.

It is easy for a leader to have a vision, but to surmount all encumbrances to transform the vision into reality is the biggest challenge for most leaders. It is what makes the difference and Gen. Buratai is gifted in both ways. His initiative of deploying technological innovations like the use of drones and  the Unmanned Ariel Vehicles (UAV)  in the battle   against Boko Haram terrorists exposes the extent he has improved on Nigeria’s technology-based  warfare.

The Army Chief understands and appreciates the importance of technology in crime prevention and he has exposed the Nigeria Army to its multiple benefits. So, months back, Gen. Buratai launched digitized uniforms in the Army. It is capable of transmitting signals if the user in distress or danger.

The   Army boss explained that the uniform is technology-based, it  is tagged with sensors  anywhere a troop has found himself  and  it sends a signal when he or she is in danger. It is very significant in ensuring the safety of troops in warfare. We can only appreciate the Army leadership for the uniforms, which is an expression of the desire   to protect troops fighting insurgency in the rough and complex terrains of the Northeast.

The Army’s increased presence in the media with information on terrorism combat operations to Nigerians and the world clipped the wings of terrorists and the veiled agents.  The impact was so tremendous that former American Secretary of States, Mr. Rex Tillerson commended Gen. Buratai over his cyberspace terrorism affront. He pleaded with other nations under the menace of terrorism to emulate the Nigerian example, elucidating that cyberspace terrorism is also a very potent aspect of the war on terror and has dire consequences.

And for the first time, the NA operated an Army Situation Room when they were directed by the President to embark on election duty in providing additional security for a peaceful general election in 2019. Gen. Buratai explained that the essence of the Army Situation Room was to monitor flashpoints of violence, easily detect them and rapidly respond to the emergency.

Under Gen. Buratai, the NA has romanced Military/Civil relations on a different mutual plane. The Army has launched its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by devoting part of its approved budgets to execute community-based projects in water, electricity, healthcare, and roads construction among others.  The natives of Abakpa community in Enugu state, whom the Army supplied portable and hygienic drinking water can attest to Nigerian soldiers’ new orientation and thinking.

imilarly, the NA has been almost the sole factor in opening up Sambisa forest and its environs after the demystification of the hitherto much dreaded forest which was terrorists most secured haven. NA has either rehabilitated or constructed new roads and provided other social amenities in the area. These are the various ways the NA under Gen. Buratai is proving that it is a responsible institution to its country and the people in the 21st century.

The Human Rights Desk (HRD)  at the Nigerian Army Headquarters’ (AHQs) and  Army  Divisions are conceptualize to provide answers and solace to occasional cases of professional misconduct arising from abuse of the human rights of Nigerians in the course of military operations.

And in further pursuit of this agenda, NA personnel have been conditioned or orientated to know that where they infringe on the rights and dignity of Nigerians, they will respond to court summons against them and answer to the allegations in a court of law. It is a remarkable departure from the tradition of the past where it was impossible to approach any Army formation to serve them court summons.

I believe the narrative has changed for the good since Gen. Buratai stepped on the podium. And this is affirmed by the improvements we can see and feel on security around the country, despite the deliberately orchestrated drums of war. But whatever has been done to sabotage the efforts on security, it has not blurred the positive differences and winning streaks of the COAS, Gen. Buratai.

Okanga wrote from Agila, Benue State