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| President Goodluck Jonathan |
The President stated this at the graduation ceremony for senior course 33 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, Kaduna State.
Represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, Jonathan said no country would fold its hand and watch "some few people destroy innocent lives and properties of Nigerians."
He continued: "This is not the time to add sentiment in our thinking but to see the reality before us and we must address the same action.
In view of this, the federal government will use all available resources to put a stop to this spate of insecurity in the land."
The President called on the armed forces and other civil security agencies to work hand in hand, especially in the area of information for efficient intelligence gathering.
He charged all security agencies in the country to step up intelligence gathering and sharing among themselves as a way of routing the menace of Boko Haram across the country.
Said the President: "The challenges of maintaining peace and security remain that of the police however, in this world of intelligence sharing and collaboration the Armed Forces, which is ever vigilant and alert must endeavour to co-operate with other security agencies to maintain internal security at all times.
"The government on its part will continue to provide all equipment and logistics needed for protection of lives and property of the citizens.
Let me therefore, use this opportunity to appeal to Nigerians that concerted efforts are being made to adequately address the current security being faced in the country", he said.
"We should also warn, that we shall not hesitate to take all necessary steps to protect the lives and property of our citizens. The wanton destruction of lives and property is enough. I want to assure that the security of lives and property anywhere in this country remain sacrosanct."
Commenting on the graduation ceremony, the President said the high number of international students in the college had enhanced the idea of African brotherliness, integration and regional co-operation, which are necessary for the common security in Africa.
He said African problems could only be solved by Africans themselves, stressing that Nigeria remains committed to international peace and security and will continue to collaborate with other African governments to promote stability and development in the continent.
According to him , the AFCSC had again proved its capability of meeting the national, regional and international level of manpower needs in command and staff training at both single and joint service levels.
"As you go back to the filed, most of you will be deployed to crisis prone area either for international security or for peace support operations outside the country.
" You must be mindful of your action and realize that we are in a common global environment and be re-assured that senior course which you have just completed have been appropriately structured to prepare you for command and staff responsibility in full scale war as well as in military operations.
"As you are conferred today with the award Passed Staff Course (psc), note that you are now better informed and responsible for your actions. Let me appreciate the recent effort of the college in collaborating with the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) to incorporate the designed programme in international affairs and strategy.
Also in his address at the occasion, the Commandant of the AFCSC, Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Muazu said the course was designed to equip the officers with the appropriate skills to function as Grade One staff officers and to prepare them for higher responsibilities in the other services.
He said they were the first set of students to have obtained the Masters Degree in International Relations, adding that the number of international participation for the course was a clear indication that the graduates are leaving up to the expectations of the Armed forces of their various countries. Graduands came from seven other African countries namely Gambia, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Niger, Mali and Ghana.
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