The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) held its maiden retreat for Defence Advisers and Attachés on Saturday in Abuja.

The retreat aims at reappraising operational tactics and methods of intelligence gathering to address the country’s myriad security challenges.

The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General Samuel Adebayo, said at the opening that the retreat created a platform for institutional reflection on DIA’s activities to measure the attainment of its mandate.

Mr Adebayo said there was the need to evolve a self-appraisal mechanism in line with global best practices to ensure optimal performance.

He said the retreat would serve as an avenue to identify new lessons and challenges; to discuss modalities of overcoming security challenges and to re-strategise for the future.

“Accordingly, the topic: `Contemporary threat assessment and national development: the Role of DIA in the Nigerian intelligence architecture’, was considered for the lecture and discussion today.

“At the end of the day, we would have gained significant insights on how to reposition the agency towards a more solid pedestal in addressing the country’s myriad security challenges.

“The need for a continuous reappraisal of our strategies, operational tactics and methods of intelligence gathering to efficiently deal with our security challenges is therefore paramount.

“This forum will no doubt provide the opportunity to tap from the vast experiences of former Chiefs of Defence Intelligence and past directors of the agency,’’ he said.

He commended the federal government and the Defence Headquarters for the financial and institutional support extended to the agency.

Mr Adebayo pledged the agency’s commitment to remain alive to its duties and be at the forefront of efforts to proactively identify and deal with emerging threats that portend grave danger to the country.

(NAN)