President Goodluck Jonathan has commissioned the first ultra-modern Military Radio station in West Africa, which he will mark a turning point in the way ongoing Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Insurgency (CT COIN) operations in the country.
The radio station which is located on the hills of Mogadishu Cantonment in Abuja, is envisioned to enhance the management and dissemination of defence information to the Nigerian public by promoting civil-military relationship in the country.
In the maiden broadcast from the station, the President urged the Nigerian military to ensure that all their efforts against the Boko Haram terrorists are not overshadowed by propaganda from some foreign media.
While commending the foresight of the leadership of the Armed Forces, the President acknowledged what he described as the resilience and doggedness of the military in the face of daunting security challenges in the country and the successes they have recorded so far.
Jonathan emphasised on the fact that previous neglect of the military in terms of hardware acquisition and relevant training have compounded the security infrastructure and affected the precision of military response to these challenges. He however stressed that the recent purchases and support have reasonably change the tide.
“These have indeed reverse the trend allowing for effective governance peace and security in areas hitherto held by terrorists and other misguided elements”, he said.
Jonathan also used the opportunity to call on all Nigerians both senior and ordinary citizens to appreciate the commitment and the sacrifices of the armed forces.
“Every society respects members of their security team and as a nation if we must encourage them to do better, first and foremost we have to encourage them not to criticise them”.
Jonathan commended the exemplary partnership between the armed forces and other government agencies on special occasions especially at the recently concluded elections, saying, “this is in line with the patriotic efforts and unalloyed support which this administration has enjoyed from the armed forces throughout my tenure”.
“As this administration draws to a close, I charge you all to extend your loyalty and support you have given me to the incoming administration (of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari) and even be more committed in protecting the lives and properties of Nigeria”.
Speaking earlier, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, remarked that “negative propaganda against the Nigerian Military by certain foreign outfits brought to the fore the need to have an outfit through which a fairly account and accurate activities of the Nigerian Military will be disseminated to the generality of our populace and the military community in particular.
“It is therefore the need to present a more accurate account of the activities of the military as well as the medium for the relaxation and entertainment of our men and women in uniform that this radio station was conceived and established”, he said
The establishment of the Defence radio is in pursuance of the vision of the Chief of Defence Staff, to reposition the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Equipped with ultra-modern digital facilities including seven state-of-the-art studios, outside broadcasting van, a transmitter that has the capacity to transmit message up to 500 kilometers radius and a website facility that will stream live to global audience, the station will be managed and operated by a team of trained military personnel and a few civilians. The station will also be known as Defence Radio 107.7FM and will be transmitting on 107.7 Frequency Modulation band (FM).