Military must be ahead of violent non-state actors – Commandant

The Commandant, National Defence College (NDC), Rear Adm. Murtala Bashir, has called for concerted effort towards dislodging violent non-state actors and addressing the security challenges in the country.

Bashir said this at the opening of the 12th National Security Seminar of the Alumni Association of the National Defence College, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The theme of the seminar is “Application of Technology as Force Multiplier in Enhancing Peace and Security in Nigeria’’.

He said the emergence of violent non-state actors such as dissidents, terrorists and bandits who use technology to undermine peace and security of the country, underscored the need to explore opportunities presented by emerging technologies.

Bashir added that proper deployment of emerging technologies would greatly help to decimate the violent non-state actors.

“We need to be ahead of the violent non-state actors.

“No doubt, the magic technologies like artificial intelligence and others are the much needed game changers that will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of our responses to the challenges facing us as a country.

“If we are to also avoid the experiences of the past, where Nigeria has to beg foreigners to prosecute legitimate internal security challenges against militancy, terrorism and insurgency.

“Then we need to reappraise our research and development efforts in technology acquisition and innovation.

“We need to also revamp our military industrial complex, and these efforts must be of national outlook and driven by research and development,” he said.

The commandant said the college was already involved in research to articulate strategic options for government to address national security concerns.

He said that the way to go was to embrace emerging technologies for enhanced national security and development.

Bashir assured that the college would work with the alumni association to proffer solutions to current and emerging national security and development challenges.

He, therefore, urged them to continue to provide the platform for intellectual discourse and sharing of thoughts on contemporary strategic defense, security, and development issues.

The President of the association, retired Air Commodore Darlington Abdullahi, said the seminar was organised bearing in mind the mounting security challenges globally and infiltration of Nigeria by criminal elements.

Abdullahi said the association felt the need to consolidate on the great successes achieved so far by applying some force multipliers, considering the spread of criminal activities across the nation.

He said that Nigeria should leverage technology to adequately enhance security operations.

“To checkmate use of its forest reserves and the fact that there is a limit to which it can continue to increase the physical strength of the security services.

“Thus, putting behind such terminologies as ungoverned spaces, unknown gunmen and of course, on all of such in our national life.