Army Chief, Buratai Calls on Ministry of Communications
- Posted in News
Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai was a guest of the Communications Ministry recently. He was received by the Minister, Barrister Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu, the Permanent Secretary, Arch. Sunday Echono, and heads of Agencies under the Ministry’s supervision. The Army Chief was there to discuss ways in which the Ministry and the Nigerian Army can tighten collaborations in various areas including satellite communications. According to him, “We are not here by accident but deliberately to stress the need to collaborate with the Ministry in the area of communications security. Communications is vital and we have a number of communications platforms in the North-East and Niger Delta but we need more collaboration. We already have relationships with institutions in the Ministry as they continue to impact positively on our communications needs but we need to expand further. National security is key in the fight against Boko Haram and other security challenges. On our part, we will do our best to ensure security in all installations and all areas that concerns us.”
In turn, Barrister Shittu said the visit by the COAS is historic as the Communications Ministry exists without the full appreciation of Nigerians. He informed that the nation has more potentials to exploit beyond petroleum. “The closest we have had is a visit by heads of the ICT in the Military. We are glad you deemed it fit to come over. The nation is proud of the achievements of the armed forces. We do know what nightmares Nigerians have undergone and we are glad that people are gradually returning to their homes. And this can be attributed to the leadership of the Military. We are proud of the armed forces and particularly the Chief of Army Staff,” the Minister added.
He however, noted the damage carried out in the North-East including the destruction of communication masts and acknowledged the efforts of the Military to build them back. Pledging the support of the Communications Ministry, Shittu reiterated the fact the battleground has shifted from armed strength to technology. According to him, “without security, lives and property will be in jeopardy. We will put in time-lines in which goals will be met.”
