PRESIDENCY TO OVERHAUL THE ARMED FORCES - OBADA

President Goodluck Jonathan is set to overhaul the armed forces any moment from now as part of the new security policy of his government.

The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Erelu Olusola Obada disclosured this on Tuesday in Abuja while inaugurating Course 21 Participants of the National Defence College.

She said the objective of the ministry was to overhaul and transform the armed forces into an institution that would be able to prove its worth whenever it was called upon to do so.

The minister said that in pursuance of the objective, the ministry had taken initiatives to re-equip the services and enhance the welfare of officers and men.

She said the initiatives included re-orientation of the armed forces for proper appreciation of its relationship with civil authority and building virile and intellectually sound armed forces, through training and re-training.

“The idea is to have a defence force, capable of responding rapidly and decisively across the full spectrum of military operations, in order to guarantee national security, and influence the global environment to the advantage of our country, '' she said.

Obada told the participants that as the country move its armed forces forward for the betterment of the nation and region that they also have a role to play.

She said the participants were in the college because they were expected to help in future with the process of transformation.

“At the NDC, you will be exposed to all the rudiments of state craft, international relations, research, ICT management and defence and security matters.

“It is expected that you will take advantage of the resources here, so that you can help us, in future, to grow the armed forces, '' she added.