President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to sustain the ongoing modernisation of the Nigerian Army through the activation of its aviation to address current security challenges in the country.

Mr Buhari gave the assurance at the opening of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference 2022 in Sokoto.

Army spokesman Onyema Nwachukwu disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

Mr Buhari said deliberate efforts had been made to fast-track the take-off of Nigerian Army Aviation through the acquisition of requisite platforms as proposed in the 2023 budget.

He reiterated his confidence in the army and other security services to defend Nigeria through the implementation of the presidential directives.

The president said the army would continue to be the catalyst of national development by supporting civil authority as an element of national power.

According to him, the regime will continue to maintain robust policies towards modernising the Nigerian army and the Armed Forces of Nigeria in general.

The president said that the ongoing process of modernisation of the armed forces had improved its capacity and combat efficiency to discharge its constitutional roles.

He commended the service chiefs and heads of other security agencies for improved synergy in accomplishing his directives, adding that the renewed vigour in operations and improved civil-military cooperation would enable the nation to achieve the desired national security objectives.

The president assured that his regime would continue to cater for the families of deceased personnel who paid the supreme price in defence of Nigeria through the provision of welfare schemes and educational scholarship programmes.

(NAN)