The newly appointed service Chiefs of Nigeria military yesterday took over duty from their predecessors, identifying discipline and the situation in the troubled Niger Delta as their main challenge .
The new Army Chief of Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau, on Thursday read the riot act to Commanders and heads of units in the army on the high level of indiscipline in the service and promised to act decisively against any form of misdemeanour.
He said that henceforth, commanding officers would be held responsible for the misconduct of their men, just as his counterpart in the Navy, Vice Admiral Isaiah Ibrahim noted that the situation in the Niger Delta remained one of the major challenges facing the Navy.
The two service chiefs spoke in Abuja as they formally took over in a colourful ceremony.
Also, the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Paul Dike, took over from his predecessor, Gen. Andrew Azazi (rtd), while Air Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin took over from Dike as the new Chief if Air Staff. Dambazau, who took over as the 17th COAS, said men of the Nigerian Army had lost time-tested military values and ethos, adding that this bred indiscipline, lack of command and control, and commitment to the ideals of the army.
Therefore, he said that Commanders and Heads of units would be held culpable for ‘individually responsible for any failure to perform as expected.’
“The major challenges currently bedevilling the Nigerian Army are enormous. Consequent upon these realities, there is a manifest decline of discipline, regimentation, commitment, welfare, and command and control.
“Overtime, some officers and soldiers have become accustomed to illegal duties, care-free attitude towards welfare of troops, involvement in criminal activities; disobedience to standing orders; and so forth.
“This implies that Commanders would be held accountable for any misdemeanour by men under command. I will hold commanders and heads of unit individually responsible for the conduct of their men,” he said.
Dambazau, who promised to be fair to all in the military, stated: “Let me leave no one in doubt of my commitment to pursue my vision for whatever it takes.
However, the new Chief of Defence, Air Marshal Paul Dike, who took over from retired Gen Andrew Azazi, promised to uphold the integrity and dignity of the Armed Forces.
Dike, who did not speak much at the event, said he considered himself blessed to be appointed to serve the country as the CDS, promising to leave behind a truly professional and combat-ready military for the nation.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim, who has taken over from retired Vice Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye, said the navy was faced with the daunting task in the Niger Delta as well as training, and welfare of its personnel.
He promised to spare no effort in bequeathing to the nation ‘a versatile, effective, efficient, and combat ready navy’.
Also, Air Marshall Oluseyi Petinrin, who now heads the Air Force, said he would build on the legacies left
behind by his predecessor, Dike, and make the Service the best on the continent.
During the formal handing over ceremony, the former CDS, Azazi, said he was leaving the military a
fulfilled man because he was handing over to someone he believed was his ‘friend’.
He advised the new Service Chiefs to work in synergy with the new CDS in order to bestow on the nation and
the continent an enviable military.
Aug292008