The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor, on Thursday met with retired senior military officers from the South-West to discuss the security challenges in the country.
Irabor while speaking at the opening of the meeting on Thursday at the Headquarters of 2 Division Nigerian Army, Ibadan, said the meeting was fixed to trace the root of the security challenges affecting the country.
He said the meeting was to tap from the wealth of experience and knowledge of the retired officers and other stakeholders.
“Whatever experience and solutions gathered from the meeting will help in tackling various security challenges in Nigeria.”
“With your wealth of experience and knowledge acquired over the years, we believe there is no better cross-section of Nigerians that should better be engaged than you.”
“You are most qualified and knowledgeable on issues of security and because of this, we have brought you here. You know security issues in your neighbourhood,” Irabor said.
The CDS charged participants at the event to commit to the unity, peace and progress of the country.
He further stated that the Nigerian Army would take advantage of the experience of the retired officers for the betterment of the region and Nigeria in general.
The CDS said the military had been re-assessing its operational engagement on daily basis to improve the security of the country.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen. Gold Chibuisi, in his statement, appreciated the CDS for trying to tap from the experience of the retired senior officers.
He noted that the retired senior officers have a critical role to play in tackling the security challenges in Southwest and Nigeria in general.
Rear Admiral Frederick Ugu, Chief of Defence Civil-Military Cooperation (CDCIMIC), while also speaking said the retired officers could not be overlooked because of their experiences on security issues.
Ugu said a similar meeting would be held across the country to further tap from the experiences of the retired officers.
