DHQ, Committee OPHK Theatre Command Seeks Doctrinal Inputs, Telecom Firm Enhance Partnership

 

By Gambo Abubakar Kaduna 

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Committee on the review of the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s Joint Defence Doctrine visited Headquarters Theatre Command, Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai  (OPHK), in Maiduguri.

The four-man committee, led by Air Vice Marshal Mohammed  Isah, was at Theatre Command to interact with field commanders and officers as part of its nationwide engagement on the ongoing review of the Joint Defence Doctrine.

In his  addresses, the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, welcomed the  DHQ committee  and  appreciated  the initiative of DHQ  to review the  Joint Doctrine at this point in  time .

  He  also stated that  "the  review of the  Joint  Doctrine   was very  timely  and would  greatly  enhance  the   interoperability  and jointness  within  the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

 Maj Gen  Abubakar  added that   in the  OPHK  Theatre of Operations, jointness has been  the key to operational effectiveness. He  therefore  provided additional inputs on Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI Joint Operations Process.

In his remarks, the DHQ  Committee Chairman, AVM Isah, noted that the Joint Defence Doctrine was expected to be reviewed every five years. 

He however explained that the current doctrine was  due for review, which prompted the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa OFR  lto direct its update. He added that the committee was  touring formations and units across the Services to gather inputs, hence their visit to Maiduguri.

During the visit, the  presentation on Theatre Command’s doctrinal contributions was delivered by Commander 57 Signals Brigade, Brigadier General Nelson Okafor, on behalf of the Theatre Command.

The session also featured interactive discussions, where further clarifications were made. 

The DHQ Committee Chairman expressed appreciation to the Theatre Commander, his management team, and other officers for their valuable contributions to the review process.

Earlier in the day, the Theatre Commander also received a courtesy visit from officials of IHS Towers and Strength, a telecommunications infrastructure company incorporated in Nigeria and licensed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).  

In his remarks, the  IHS Team Leader,  Colonel Abdulkadir Ahmed (retired) stated that the visit was aimed at strengthening existing collaboration with the Theatre Command, especially in the area of security  of critical  national  infrastructure  across the North East theatre of operations.

 He however explained that the company provides services to telecommunications providers by maintaining masts, facilities, and fueling equipment—operations which often require military security support due to the vulnerability of the region. 

He further noted that, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the company has supported some military locations within the theatre. He therefore called for deeper partnership and collaboration with the Theatre Command.

In his response, the  Theatre Commander,  Major  General  Abdulsalam  Abubakar thanked the IHS team for its continued partnership with the Command. 

He assured them of the Theatre's commitment to strengthening the collaboration as the mandate of JTF (NE) OPHK included the protection of critical national infrastructure inline with the recent Presidential Order on the protection of such strategic assets.