The Chief of Army Staff, Major Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has vowed not to betray the trust and confidence repose in him for the job.
He made this vow when he appeared for screening before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on screening of service chiefs.
It will be recalled that the Senate had last week, screened the service chiefs and other security heads appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last month.
Lagbaja said security challenges in the last two decades have made governance more challenging, and that it has disrupted developmental progress in the country.
Although, he noted that the Nigeria Army remains the most misunderstood, complex and challenged component of the Nigeria Armed Forces.
In his words, “I consider my nomination as a call to higher responsibilities and I am determined not to betray the trust and confidence reposed in me.
“It is an open secret that our country has faced a challenging security environment in the past two decades. It has impacted adversely on our socio-economic and political lives.
“The episodic crises of the past have now become enduring, thereby making governance and the rule of law more challenging for successive administrations.
“Today’s painful reality is that insecurity has distressed our developmental plans and aspirations for a strong, prosperous, globally competitive and influential nation.
‘’Never in recent time is the requirement for proactive, adaptive and inclusive leadership more needed than Nigeria’s security environment of today.
“These requirements are what I intend to do as COAS if confirmed. I am mindful that the Nigerian Army, which I am being screened to lead is a crucial component of our military instrument of national power. “It is not only the largest, but the most complex, most geographically spread, most sought after during crisis and often most misunderstood.
“I believe that for the Nigerian Army to grapple with the demands of the contemporary security environment, it would consistently transform to be a step ahead of its time.
“For this reason, I conceptualize my philosophy of command as to transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped and highly motivated force towards achieving our constitutional responsibilities within a joint environment.
“I intend to partner with the National Assembly and other stakeholders in achieving this command philosophy.’’
