Passing-Out Parade: Tinubu Urges Military to Defeat Insurgency, Protect Nation’s Economy

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on the Nigerian military to safeguard the nation’s economic interests by tackling the disruptive activities of terrorists and insurgents.

The President made the charge on Saturday during the combined passing-out parade of cadets from the 72 Regular Course (Army, Navy, and Air Force), Short Service Course, and Branch Commission Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna.

Represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu stressed that the military must confront insurgency decisively to prevent economic collapse, strengthen the Armed Forces, and eliminate threats to national security.

“I will seize this opportunity to draw your attention to the ills of insurgency and other security challenges to our nation. You must remember that the goal of insurgents and terrorists is to undermine our developmental reforms by creating counter-states.

“Yours is to safeguard the economy and core values of our nation, revitalizing the Armed Forces despite the enemies’ indiscriminate violence and baseless propaganda.

“You must never lose sight of the vision of the founding fathers of our dear nation, irrespective of the complex security challenges confronting us today,” Tinubu said.

The President commended the NDA for adopting innovative approaches in training and military research aimed at enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in present and future operations.

He congratulated the graduating cadets, noting that there was no better time to demonstrate courage and uphold the ideals upon which the NDA was founded in defence of the fatherland. Tinubu also lauded the institution for updating its training curricula and methodologies in line with modern operational demands.

A total of 472 cadets were commissioned into the Armed Forces: 218 into the Army, 135 into the Navy, and 119 into the Air Force, in addition to those from the Short Service Course. Six cadets received special awards for excellence in academics, military training, and extracurricular activities.

Jackson Udom
Special Assistant to the President of the Senate on Media