By Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has said, the Nigerian military is deploying more non-kinetic approach due to its effectiveness in combating terrorism and other security challenges in the country.
The CDS stated this while delivering his keynote address at a one-day seminar with the theme :“Civil Military Relations: Non-kinetic efforts of the Nigerian Military in Security Management, Challenges, and Prospects”, organised by Defence Correspondent Association of Nigerian (DECAN) in Abuja.
He said the traditional notion of war relying heavily on kinetic means is gradually being relegated and the Nigerian military now seeks to possess and apply non kinetic approaches to project power, secure interests and solve problems.
The CDS said: “Nigeria, as a diverse and complex nation, faces a mirage of security threats that demand our varying attention and concerted efforts to address.
From separatism, insurgencies and terrorism to inter communal conflicts, transnational organized crimes and the mirror of other security challenges, the task of securing our nation is formidable and tasking. In tackling these threats, we are not unmindful of the shift from seeking victory through kinetic means. Though the overall power potential of the country is still being determined by conventional military artists, there is no doubt that the non-kinetic means are becoming more relevant in the power potentials of Nigeria. The armed forces of Nigeria, being the key driver encountering the myriad of security threats nationwide has sustained non military and soft strategies as a means to an end of this multifaceted threats.”
He said the military all over the world had noted that when dealing with non-state actors the the military and the adversaries struggle for the hearts and minds of the citizens, hence the Nigerian military tries to be ahead of the adversaries.
DECAN President, Ismail Musa, said the theme of the event was carefully chosen as a way to reshape our minds towards effective service delivery.
“It is also part of our noble mandate to educate our members and the public about the ongoing soft approach adopted by the military in the quest to further secure the nation,” he added.
The director defence media operations Major General Edward Buba said the nation’s security requires a whole of government and a whole of society approach,which culminates into a whole of nation’s approach to address.
He said both media and military have a key role to play in order to address the challenge.
