President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, warned Defence Intelligence officers to refrain from any act that can bring disrepute to the agency ahead of the 2023 general elections.
He specifically charged those who would be engaged with various support and assistance in the elections, particularly with the distribution and monitoring of classified materials and other logistics to be more professional.
Buhari handed down this warning in Abuja when he commissioned the Defence Intelligence Agency’s newly acquired estate located at Karimo Area of the Federal Capital Territory.
The President, who was the special guest of honour, explained that the DIA’s investment in staff accommodation complements his vision of “achieving improved national security.”
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Daily Trust reports the general elections slated for February 2023 would hold in the next 58 days in line with the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Buhari said, “I am very pleased to be in your midst this morning to commission this magnificent edifice for the Defence Intelligence Agency.
“This befitting accommodation will definitely enhance productivity and coordination of activities for the staff of the Agency in view of the increasing numbers of personnel to face new challenges and responsibilities.
“The significance of today’s occasion can be better understood by making the connection between shelter and productivity. This underpins the administration’s vision for the provision of shelter to improve performance as well as comfort for workers, families and communities.
“This commissioning ceremony further avails another opportunity to reaffirm my confidence in the competence, commitment and achievements of the Defence Intelligence Agency’s giant strides achieved across the nation.
He continued, “I am confident that these new premises will yield enormous shelter dividends to the Defence Intelligence Agency staff, their families and to the host locality. The acquisition of this accommodation is a great leap forward, but the envisaged benefits would be aborted without diligent maintenance.
“I charge you all to ensure the sustenance of the high standard of this facility. This would help realise the value of the enormous resources committed to its acquisition. I very much appreciate the efforts of the Defence Intelligence Agency towards meeting this administration’s housing policy, which is set to provide housing for all Nigerians.
“The agency’s investment in staff accommodation complements our vision of achieving improved national security. Let me reiterate, as we approach our general election in 2023, Security Agencies would be engaged with various support and assistance in the elections, particularly with the distribution and monitoring of classified materials and other logistics.
“These must be done professionally and in accordance with Standing Operation Procedures. I, therefore, urge you to remain apolitical and desist from behaviour that could bring disrepute to the Agency and our country by compromising the democratic process.”
Speaking earlier, the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. Samuel Adebayo said the DIA staff quarters was acquired to ameliorate the accommodation challenges faced by the agency.
The spy chief pledged that his agency would carry out the order given by the president properly towards securing the country with actionable intelligence.
He said the property contained 16 units of 3-bedroom terrace buildings with boys’ quarters and 48 units of 3-bedroom flats all in suite.
Adebayo added, “One of the blocks of 6 units of flats and 2 units of terrace buildings has been furnished as proto-types while the rest would be furnished during the course of the year 2023 Budget implementation cycle.
“We want to thank Your Excellency most sincerely for your astute leadership and direction that has spurred us to discharge our job professionally with the zeal to do more.
“You charged us to spare no efforts in support of the AFN with actionable intelligence toward a secured Nigeria. Permit me, Your Excellency to use this opportunity to report back that we have continued to carry out DIA’s mandates conscientiously with positive outcomes.
“We prioritized technical and communication aspects of intelligence in support of the Armed Forces operations and activities within and outside the country. We have also successfully dominated the threat environment with a combination of special intelligence operations and non-kinetic activities.
“These operations have recorded degrees of success that have continued to deny the enemies of state cohesion and capabilities to withstand the fighting forces.
“As we continue to review our activities in the coming Year 2023, the Agency intends to refocus its tactical and technical intelligence drive on all the frontiers to sustain the gains. So far, the result across all theatres has been significantly rewarding.”
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