The Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro has stressed the need for a national retreat aimed at transforming the Nigerian military and retooling its capacity to deal with modern day security challenges.
According to a report by the press office, ministry of defence, the Minister made the call on Wednesday at the 58th Nigerian Navy Week celebration in Calabar, Cross River State, while delivering the closing remarks at the Nigerian Navy Week Conference themed: “Combating Crude Oil Theft in Nigeria’s Maritime Domain: An imperative for Improved National Earnings.”
“I am committed to assisting in midwifing a process that will help us develop creative strategies for alternative sources of funding for our military, especially the Nigerian Navy in its fight against crude oil theft in Nigeria”, Obanikoro pointed out.
“Rest assured that I will take your message to Mr. President and equally advance the need for us to have a presidential retreat for the Nigerian military where key stakeholders from the National Assembly, the Minister of Defence, myself, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, other members of the Executive and the private sector will sit down to develop a transformational roadmap for the Nigerian military”, he said.
Mr. Obanikoro further challenged the Military to embrace new paradigms that encourage out of the box thinking in confronting some of the challenges that they face.
He also used the opportunity to reiterate the commitment and support of President Goodluck Jonathan for the Nigerian Armed Forces, noting that the President “is very passionate and committed about supporting the Nigerian military.”
