The Federal Government has inaugurated a white-paper drafting committee on the revision of the country’s National Defence Policy (2015) to reflect its current security challenges.
Amb. Danjuma Shani, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Defence, inaugurated the committee in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to him, the committee chaired by retired Lt.-Gen. Isaac Obiakor, has six weeks within which to come up with the white paper.
“All nations in the modern world require a National Defence Policy to guide the core functions of their sovereignty and nationhood.
“Nigeria has operated a National Defence Policy since 2006 to guide our national direction in defence, economic and military affairs both locally and internationally.
“It, therefore, behooves on you to collectively and dispassionately execute this “National Assignment’’ irrespective of service affiliations and primordial differences.
“Terms of reference are to capture government’s view/position to each of the recommendations in the revised National Defence Policy.
“To make recommendations to government to realistic strategies for the implementation of the revised National Defence Policy.’’
Shani added that the adoption of a new National Defence Policy is strategic in view of the dynamic nature of national security and current security threats such as terrorism and militancy.
He said the review of the existing National Defence Policy (2006) was long overdue, noting that the roles of the Armed Forces in national development had changed with current socio-political trends.
“Since 2006, when the first National Defence Policy was produced, a lot of changes have taken place in the security architecture both
locally and globally.
“There has been an increase in terrorism, illegal oil bunkering/oil theft, armed robbery, kidnappings, banditry and piracy off the coast
of Nigeria.
“This has necessitated the increased deployment of the Armed Forces to deal with these security challenges with a corresponding need to update the National Defence Policy to accommodate these challenges.
“The nature and character of threats have thus fundamentally changed.’’
Sheni said the draft document advocates a total strategy that ensures strong professional and citizens’ participation while mobilizing all relevant resources for national defence.
Responding, the chairman of the committee, retired Lt.-Gen. Isaac Obiakor said the review of the National Defence Policy was long overdue.
He said the committee would produce a white paper for the benefit of Nigeria’s defence sector and the nation at large.
“I want to say on behalf of my colleagues and my humble self that I think the marching order is very clear, I want to equally too state that we know the import of this assignment.
“We are happy that we are doing this now; I think we stood for too long, done things without policy directions as the security.
“I hope that this will be the good beginning and it will continue to be.
“I want to assure you that we shall do the best we can to produce a white paper because we know the import of white papers.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the draft National Defence Policy was submitted to the Federal Government in May 2015.
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