The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has tasked security agencies to in the interest of national security appreciate and protect each other as partners and co-stakeholders.
The CDS stated this at the fourth edition of the Armed Forces and Security Agencies half marathon in Abuja.
He said men of the Armed Forces and Security Agencies have in the past brought athletic glory to Nigeria through the number of international trophies they won.
“Unity among security agencies will foster public trust in us and improve their appreciation of our enormous sacrifices in confronting these security challenges. I therefore urge you to continue to be guided, at all times, by the sense of professionalism and spirit of sportsmanship in the discharge of your sacred duties.”
He pledged that the Defence Headquarters under his watch will “restore the glory days and as resources permit this competition will continue to be an annual event.”
General Musa said the participants are significantly indispensable in the implementation of the security architecture of the country.
“Though playing different roles and approaching your jobs with different strategies, in matters of national security, you must appreciate and protect each other as partners and co-stakeholders in the overriding task of securing our dear nation.
“The Defence Headquarters will continue to project the excellent relationship with other Security Agencies and in fact, seek areas for more collaboration and enhancing synergy of efforts.
“I have no doubt in my mind that by building bridges of understanding through healthy competition, the efforts and sacrifices in defending the country from external aggression or internal insurrection, will be a lot easier”.
He added that the half marathon championship will be used as a testing ground for the Armed Forces and Security Agencies Games to bring out the best to represent the country in international competitions.
The Minister of Defence, Mohammad Abubakar Badaru, said the event intends to forge cohesion amongst all security agencies for enhanced understanding and economy of common efforts towards tackling the multi-dimensional Internal security challenges bedevilling the country.
The minister, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr. Abubakar Kana, said the occasion also provides a platform for the armed forces and other security agencies to interact with one another towards sustaining the good working relationship built and enjoyed over the years.
The minister, who highlighted the importance of physical fitness, said, “It is physically and mentally fit personnel that make the difference in combat and internal security operations”.
He reiterated that physical fitness remains the cornerstone of troops combat readiness as it “keeps service personnel in the top physical state that enables them to carry out and achieve assigned tasks. Overall, physical fitness is the basis for service personnel, good health and physical well-being.”
He continued, “The current security challenges confronting our dear nation are enormous and thus call for synergy and cooperation amongst armed forces as well as all the security agencies in our country. This explains why engagements such as this championship need to be sustained and new ones introduced to facilitate mutual interaction amongst personnel.
“We’re not unaware of the huge efforts and great sacrifice our troops are making at tackling the security challenges our country is currently facing.”
LEADERSHIP reports that Nigerian won the team events both for male and female while Stephen Joshua of Fire Service emerged winner for the male category and Deborah Pam of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC) won the female race.
The individual winners went home with Innoson vehicles and cash prizes.
