President Bola Tinubu on Saturday commissioned 874 cadets of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) into the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

The 874 cadets were those of 72 Regular Course, Short Service Course 48 (army), Direct Short Service 33 (air force), and Branch Commission 2 (air force).

Mr Tinubu, the reviewing officer, was represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

He said that over the years, the NDA had undergone various levels of growth and advancements towards improving the operational capabilities of the Nigerian military.

The president commended the academy’s adoption of technological approaches in training and military research, focusing on improving efficiency and effectiveness in current and future operations.

Mr Tinubu emphasised the importance of addressing key drivers of insecurity, including poverty, unemployment, poor education, and social disintegration, through programmes and policies that empower Nigerians.

The president highlighted his administration’s commitment to job creation, macroeconomic stability, human capital development, poverty alleviation, and social security through the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said, “Nigeria’s continental and regional leadership role will continue to be upheld and intensified, with efforts to strengthen partnerships for democracy, development, peace, and security.”

Mr Tinubu urged the military to safeguard the country’s economic interests against terrorists and insurgents.

He praised the academy’s recent overhaul of training curricula and methodologies to align with contemporary operational environments.

“My administration has remained unrelenting in our resolve to provide a holistically safe society for all our citizens by implementing programmes and policies empowering Nigerians to combat poverty, criminality, and terrorism.

“I will seize this opportunity to draw your attention to the ills of insurgency and other security challenges to our dear nation.

“You must remember that the goal of the insurgents and terrorists remains to counteract our development reforms by creating chaos.

“Yours is to secure the economic and core values of our nation, to prevent the collapse of the economy, and to revitalise our armed forces,” the president said.

The president congratulated the government and people of the Republic of Congo, who also have a cadet who graduated at the event.

(NAN)