All hands are on deck for peaceful 2023 elections, says army chief

Faruk Yahaya, chief of army staff, says the army will set the stage for the conduct of a peaceful general election in 2023.

Yahaya gave the assurance on Thursday, while speaking with journalists at the graduation of the second batch trainees of the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) youth development project for barracks youths, in Abuja.

He said the nation’s security situation has continued to improve, and that the military and other security agencies are not relenting in their efforts to sustain the feat.

“The marching order by Mr President to improve the security situation so that he can hand over a secured nation is what we are carrying out in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force, navy and other security agencies,” he said.

“Now, all hands are on deck, coupled with equipment and other support provided by Mr President and the commitment by the Nigerian Army under my command and other services and the cooperation of the Nigerian people who are providing information which is key in our operations.

“God willing, we shall continue to improve the situation and set the stage for the conduct of 2023 elections.”

Yahaya also said the training of youths is key to the development of the military community.

“What we have just witnessed today is the graduation of our youths in the barracks; 231 of them were trained on various skills by NAOWA,” he said.

“These are males and females who have graduated from secondary schools. Instead of leaving them idle, we decided to empower them so that they become useful to themselves and the society.”

Also speaking, Salamatu Yahaya, president of NAOWA, said the empowerment would reduce crime in the barracks and the society at large.

She urged other well-meaning Nigerians and organisations to invest in youths.