The Director General (DG) of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Major General Garba Wahab (retd.) has said the military perception that the military is hostile to civilians is outdated.
According to him, the military has undergone significant transformation to foster better relations with the citizens since the return to democracy.
Speaking during a chat with Defence journalists in Abuja on Friday, Wahab said all branches of the armed forces have established Departments of Civil-Military Affairs to foster good relationships with the citizens.
He stressed that with this, the Nigerian military is no longer hostile to civilians.
‘The Nigerian military is no longer hostile to civilians. The perception that the military is hostile to civilians is outdated. Things have changed. Since the return to democracy, all branches of the armed forces have established Departments of Civil-Military Affairs to enhance positive engagement with the public’, he stated.
He also called for an end to mutual distrust between the military and the media, stressing that both institutions must work together for Nigeria’s stability.
‘The distrust between the military and media must be addressed for them to be able to work together. We must all work as a team to ensure that the system moves on.
In a modern society like Nigeria, security is development and development is security. Without security, you can’t be developed. And without development, you can’t be secured. The two go together.
‘So, we are pursuing security for us to be developed’, he said.
Wahab urged journalists to be mindful of national interest in their reportage, noting that security and development are interconnected.
