Major General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), has led a delegation of newly appointed service chiefs on a visit to the Ministry of Defence’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana.
The purpose of the visit was to strengthen the working relationship between the military and the ministry, as they strive to address security threats and achieve the objectives set by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
During the courtesy call at Defence House, Dr. Kana, the Permanent Secretary, emphasized the importance of sustaining civil-military relations.
He highlighted the ongoing reforms implemented by the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces, which were initiated under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
These reforms have shown promising results in joint operations, including the establishment of the Octagon, a platform that promotes collaboration between civilians and the military to enhance national security.
Dr. Kana also stressed the Ministry of Defence’s dedication to the development of Nigeria’s military industrial complex through the Defence Industries Corporation (DICON).
This initiative aims to foster local development, employment, and self-sufficiency in the production of arms, ammunition, and other military hardware. It is a crucial step towards boosting both the economy and national security.
Furthermore, the Permanent Secretary revealed that the Federal Government is exploring the possibility of involving the Nigerian Navy in fish harvesting activities along the country’s coastal waters.
This endeavor aims to create employment opportunities and generate revenue.
Dr. Kana expressed concerns about international incursions into Nigerian waters and highlighted the detrimental effects of illegal fishing. Nigeria alone loses $60 million annually to this illicit practice, while the entire West African region suffers a staggering loss of $1.3 billion worth of fish due to illegal trade.
Foreign fishing fleets, driven by increasing global demand for fish, pose a significant threat to the livelihoods and nutrition of millions of people in Africa.
European trawlers remain the primary foreign presence, but fleets from China, the Philippines, Russia, South Korea, and Taiwan have also expanded in recent years, depleting fish stocks and adversely affecting local fishermen.
In response to this challenge, the Permanent Secretary called upon the Armed Forces to seize this opportunity and redirect the potential revenue back to Nigeria.
His objective is to combat illegal fishing activities and safeguard the interests of Nigerian fishermen. He expressed confidence in the capabilities of the armed forces and commended the positive start of the new service chiefs, who are aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s clear mandates. Dr. Kana affirmed the Ministry of Defence’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the nation’s security and well-being.
