In line with Nigerian Army constitutional responsibilities, the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has said, the Army will continue to provide conducive and secured environment for the conduct of the general elections through Operation SAFE CONDUCT in aid to civil authority".

The COAS made this known on Thursday during his remark at the closing ceremony of COAS first quarter Conference held at the Army Headquarters Command Officers Mess Asokoro, Abuja.

According to General Yahaya this is particularly important as the activities outlined in the Independent National Electoral Commission calendar gathers steam.

General Yahaya charges all army personnel to remain professional and glaringly apolitical as they carry out their constitutional duties of maintaining peace and security in aid of civil authority across the Country.

He advise all personnel to continue to uphold human right principles in the conduct of our operations in tandem with the Constitution and Nigerian Army Rules of Engagement.

The COAS also noted nefarious activities of violent criminals that Nigeria confront in ongoing operations of Nigerian Army within the Country has a direct connect with proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in unauthorized hands.

General Yahaya said this has brought to the fore the inherent dangers in arms proliferation and thus necessitated the need for all Army Commanders to exercise effective control of arms and ammunition placed under their care and spare no efforts at thwarting any forms of the arms spread in their domains.

He urged Commanders to sustain the high level of professionalism so far exhibited in employment of these platforms in the field to ensure optimal performance.

"It is a Command responsibility to ensure proper deployment, employment and maintenance of all equipment and facilities.

"I wish to remind commanders to continue to educate and inculcate in the troops on the ‘Core Values’ of the Nigerian Army which among others include, Courage, Integrity, Selfless Service and Respect for Others.

"In particular, the aspect of ‘Courage’ was extensively discussed during the Conference as fundamental requirement in the development and maintenance of the ‘Warrior Ethos’ which is key to accomplishment of kinetic missions, he advised.

General Yahaya stressed that the concept and content of the Warrior Ethos’ should be taken seriously in all aspects of Nigerian Army training.

"The successes recorded so far in our operations can be attributed to the renewed zeal by the troops to decisively confront all forms of security threats. This much appreciated dogged posture must be sustained as no untoward conduct or misdemeanour would be tolerated from any quarters", he said.

General Yahaya also charged all Commanders to sensitize personnel on the use of social media and also conduct regular visits to the frontline to address any immediate challenges and also boost the morale of troops.

He thanked president Muhammadu Buhari for his continuous support and strategic guidance, adding that, the Nigerian Army will work tirelessly in conjunction with sister Services, other security agencies and stakeholders in providing enabling environment for peace to thrive in the Country.

General Yahaya thanked the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army) and the Central Organizing Committee for a well-organized Conference and ambience you created provided the enabling environment for fruitful deliberations
Watch the closing ceremony

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgdv1J7lmtk