On Wednesday in Abuja, the House of Representatives Committee on Defence began screening the acting chief of army staff, Olufemi Oluyede, for confirmation.

The committee chairman, Benson Babajimi (APC-Lagos), said the screening was a constitutional mandate of the house.

He said that proactive approaches to national security must be prioritised to address insecurity in the country.

Mr Babajimi said that Nigeria continues to grapple with an evolving spectrum of security challenges, ranging from insurgency and banditry to communal clashes and cyber threats.

The lawmaker said that for over a decade, the Armed Forces of Nigeria have been at the forefront of responding to these challenges, launching numerous operations and providing vital support to internal security efforts.

“While we commend the significant successes recorded in recent years, it is clear that more work remains to be done to achieve sustainable peace across all regions of the country.

The chairman said the task before the committee is to assess the qualifications and vision of the chief of army staff nominee and establish a collaborative roadmap for tackling Nigeria’s security challenges.

Mr Babajimi said as a partner in the pursuit of a secure and prosperous Nigeria, the house remained steadfast in its commitment to legislative oversight and support for the armed forces.

The chairman said the committee will ask questions reflecting the concerns of constituents and the nation. He urged the nominee to provide comprehensive and candid responses to guide deliberations, saying the new role is pivotal in Nigeria’s journey toward lasting peace and stability.

Responding, Mr Oluyede pledged to bring peace to the country if confirmed as a substantive chief of army staff. He said the security environment in the country today required a united effort on the part of every Nigerian.

He called for strong bilateral and multilateral alliances with neighbouring countries, deep collaboration, and joint efforts by the services and other security agencies.

Mr Oluyede said that the security environment required a united effort on the part of every Nigerian.

He said there is a need for strong bilateral and multilateral alliances between Nigeria and her neighbours and deep collaboration among services and other security agencies.

(NAN)