The federal government has appointed a former military administrator of Kwara and Kano States, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Ndatsu Umar (rtd), as the chairman of the committee for the reform of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
A statement on Monday night by Mohammed Abdulkadri, Media Assistant of the minister of Defence said, “Also appointed is the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petirin stressing that, Air Commodore D.E. Abdullahi (rtd) will serve as the Secretary of the committee.
During the inauguration of the committee, the Minister for Defence, Maj, Gen, Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) unveiled the 10 – point undisclosed “Convening Order” for strategic reasons.
The minister told the committee to address the perceived administrative and Operational gaps in the Military Sector which he said must be refined and clearly defined in compliance with the current globally acceptable 21st century standards.
Magashi specifically told the committee chairman and members to see their assignment as patriotic call to national service and the need to play their roles in defence of the country’s territorial integrity against the infractions of the insurgents, bandits and kidnappers.
“The Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces President Muhammadu Buhari is optimistic that the recommendations of the Committee at the end of their assignment will drive his campaign promise to return the Military to its rightful place of global reckoning”, the minister added.
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In his remark, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Musa Istifanus, described the composition of the membership of the Committee which has Air Commodore DE Abdullahi (rtd) as Secretary as carefully selected and balanced to meet national representation and aspirations capable of delivering on their mandates.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the committee assured the Minister of Defence that members will bring their huge experiences and expertise to bear in the discharge of their assigned task.
AVM Umar said team work, dedication and commitment will be their watchword within the ambit of national realities.
Other members of the committee are; Former Assistant Secretary General Office of Military Affairs UN department of Peacekeeping Operation New York, Lt Gen Chikadibia Isaac Obiakor, Special Adviser Technical to the Minister of Defence Gen Ahmed Tijani, (rtd) Rear Admiral AG Adedeji (rtd), Maj Gen AM Jibril (rtd) and Rear Admirals FD Akpan and JA Ajani (rtd).
Also in the Committee are Brigadier General JN Temlong, Group Captain SG Shehu (rtd), Maj Gen OF Azinta as representative of the Chief of Defence Staff,(CDS), Maj Gen IS Ali as representative of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Rear Admiral OE Eyo for Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) and AVM IO Ojeyemi as the representative of the Chief of Air Staff (CAS).
Others include, Goni Aji, Professor AS Nwakwo, Director Joint Services (JSD) OM Mustapha and Director Reforms Ochida Ahubi Suzan MS as representatives of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) while Former Permanent Secretaries Ministry of Defence who made the list include Alhaji Aliyu Ismaila, and Ambassador Danjuma Sheni.
