Nigeria will overcome security challenges — Ex-army chief, Buratai

A former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), has predicted an end to the security challenges Nigeria is presently passing through saying it will soon be a thing of the past.

General Buratai spoke at the public presentation of books written by the Director Academic, Planning and Quality Assurance, Nigerian Army University, Biu, Borno State, Brigadier General Mogbekeloluwa Oluyinka Fakokunde, which was held at Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja on Friday.

The former army chief commended the efforts of the Nigerian military in the war against insecurity saying they have given their best within the circumstances they have found themselves. He however expressed optimism in the ability of the military to nip the security challenges in the bud very soon saying insecurity is a global occurrence.

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“I want to commend them (the military). They are doing well. They are doing their best within the circumstances they find themselves and what is happening. It (insecurity) is not only in Nigeria, it is global. What is happening is Nigeria is not an exception. Within our neighbours, we see what is happening and globally.

“We see what is happening in Sudan, Ukraine, in the Middle East and so on. They (the military) need to remain resolute, remain focused and continue the project they are doing and surely they will succeed. For sure it (insecurity) cannot be permanent, there must be a solution and we can get out of it one day,” General Buratai told Tribune Online.

The author, Brigadier General Fakokunde, while speaking with Tribune Online, said the books were written with the intention to solve societal problems such as stress, drug abuse and addiction as well as providing the leeway for teachers to manage stress associated with their profession.

He said as builders of talents, teachers need the required skills and qualifications to excel and impart knowledge on their students as leaders of tomorrow.

“If you look at these books, they are not just ordinary books, they are also working instruments addressing the problems of the society like problem of drug addicts, problem of occupational stress and others ravaging the workforce now. These are competencies they need to imbibe so that they can manage their stress.

“The rate of drug abuse is a serious thing now and is prevalent among the students and the youths. With these publications, we have instruments that can be used to manage drug abuse among our youths, our workforce and every strata of the society. The intention is to solve problems of the society and that is what we have done by unveiling these books.”

The books’ reviewer, Professor Mary Ogechi Esere, of the University of Ilorin, while commending the author for his efforts said the books describe Nigeria’s current realities and provide solutions for the way out.

She said the books could not have come at a better time describing them as tools for stress management and to tackle the menace of drug abuse especially among the youths.

“The author has deemed it fit to give us tools that we can use to manage the stress and tackle drug abuse which is prevalent among our students right from primary schools. The books are apt, written at the right time. It is scholarly and the writing style is unique,” she said.

The books presented are Handbook of Occupational Stress Management for Teachers, Psychological Testing and Technique in Continuous Assessment for Colleges and Universities, Drug Abuse Awareness Scale (DAAS) and Drug Abuse Awareness Scale (DAAS) Manual.