DEFENCE
JTF Moves to Check Drug Abuse Amongst Military Personnel Deployed to Niger- Delta
The Joint Task Force (JTF) deployed to protect oil installations in the Niger Delta , Operation Delta Safe, on Monday urged personnel of various services under its command to steer clear of hard drugs.
Rear Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade, Commander of the joint force gave the charge in his opening remarks during the seminar on the dangers of drugs abuse amongst personnel of security agencies under the command at JTF headquarters in Yenagoa.
He said that the military does not condone drugs abuse as it was a ‘Court Marshal Offence’ with stiff penalties under the military statues.
He said that drug abuse has become a global menace with adverse consequences on the mental and physical health of the populace as well as security consequences as most criminals find solace in substance abuse to gain courage to perpetrate their acts.
“Thus, nations of the world are painstakingly looking for solutions to this endless problem. Attempts to understand the nature of illicit drug abuse and addiction can be traced back to centuries, however, the search has been limited by the scientific theories available at any point.
” Dr Benjamin Rush, a founder of the first medical school in the United States and a signatory of the Declaration of Independence, a pioneer of US drug abuse research regretted the few scientific resources in the early days.
“Today, much has been done globally to curtail substance abuse. However, these have not yielded the desired results in Nigeria and other developing nations had been on the increase in recent times.
” Early this year, The President and Commander in Chief, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari decried the rising problem of drug abuse and its associated consequences particularly as it affects national security and immediately inaugurated a Presidential Committee on drug abuse to find lasting solution to the menace, ” Akinrinade said.
The JTF Boss noted that following the presidential directive, the Chief of Defense Staff, Gen Gabriel Olonisakin initiated a plan to discourage military personnel from substance abuse to ensure that they are in good health and sound mind to discharge their constitutional responsibility.
Speaking on the topic, “Drug Abuse amongst Military/Paramilitary: Implications on Health and Professional Responsibility, Dr Chia Francis, a Psychologist noted that the demands of military deployment often lead to the temptation to drugs abuse.
According to Francis, an official of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, inability to sleep, need for alertness and combat expose military personnel to pressure to use drugs.
He said that according to recent studies, drug abuse in Nigeria stands at 24.4 per cent amongst this from ages 15 and 64 higher than the global average of 5.6 percent in 2016.
He traced the stages to drug addiction from experinmentation, occasional use, regular use, dependence and addiction stage adding that testing services were available to detect drug use while victims can be rehabilitated to lead normal lives.
More than 100 men and officers drawn from various components and units of the joint military force participated in the one day seminar.
The Nigerian Army is set to review the conduct of troops in Operation Safe Conduct during the just concluded 2023 general elections across the country.
The review is expected to take place during the forthcoming Chief of Army Staff First Quarter 2023 Conference.
This is contained in a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.
-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Thursday in Abuja.Nwachukwu said that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, would interact with the General Officers Commanding (GOC), field commanders and other senior officers.
He said that the interaction would help to provide possible guidance towards enhancing army operations and other activities.
He said the conference, which would hold from April 3 to April 6 would offer an avenue for reappraisal of the administrative affairs of the Nigerian army.
He added that it would also help in evaluation and comprehensive review of ongoing operational engagements within the first quarter.
According to him, this will provide the army an in-depth insight to enable far reaching decisions towards achieving its set objective of addressing the multifaceted security challenges confronting the country.
Nwachukwu said that the COAS would present a new Toyota Hilux vehicles each to 14 Army Warrant Officers who had attained the peak of their soldiering career.
“Similarly, the COAS will commission the newly constructed Faruk Yahaya Historical Park located at Asokoro Abuja.
“The conference will also showcase some research and development effort of the Nigerian Army in an exhibition.
“The three days conference promises to be very eventful, as it will witness a review of the conduct of troops during the recently concluded Operation SAFE CONDUCT 2023 and other operations across the country,” he said.
Nwachukwu reaffirmed the commitment and resolve of the Nigerian army to discharging its constitutional mandate professionally.
“We will also be resolute in upholding our values of courage, selfless sacrifice, respect, discipline and unalloyed loyalty to constituted authority,” he added. (NAN)
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, says that President Muhammadu Buhari is happy with the troops performance in the fight against insurgents in the North East.
Irabor stated this on Thursday in Maiduguri while addressing troops at the headquarters of the Joint Task Force, North East Operation Hadin Kai.
“The Commander in Chief is happy with you and has asked me to relay to you to keep up the standard and momentum that you are displaying in the north east operation,” Irabor said.
The CDS also lauded the successes being recorded by the troops, adding that it was based on their sense of patriotism and resilience.
He said that the troops` performance showed the true manifestation of the training provided to them.
Irabor said that commanders in the theatre were putting final touches for more onslaughts on remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP.
“You must ensure that the criminals wherever they are hiding you smoke them out
“I know that you will do that, very soon we will be back to celebrate together,” Irabor said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CDS also held a meeting with the Theatre Commander, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Ali, GOC 7 Division, Maj. Gen. Waidi Shuaibu and other operational commanders.
He also interacted with wounded soldiers at the military hospital in Maimalari Cantonment. (NAN)
Former Chief of General Staff under Gen. Sani Abacha’s government, retired Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya(GCON), is dead.
The former military governor of Ogun died at the age of 79.
His death was announced on Sunday in a statement by his son, Oyesinmilola Diya.
It read, “On behalf of the entire Diya family home and abroad; we announce the passing on to Glory of our dear husband, father, grandfather and brother, Lt- Gen.
Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (Rtd).“Our dear Daddy passed onto glory in the early hours of March 26, 2023.
Please keep us in your prayers as we mourn his demise in this period.Further announcements will be made public in due course,” he said.
(NAN)
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