President Muhammadu Buhari has admitted that the fight against insecurity in his eight years in office was challenging but said the situation has improved greatly.

Buhari said this during the official unveiling of the national and regimental colours of the new and operationalised units of the Nigerian Army at the Eagle Square in Abuja.

“Since the inception of this administration in 2015, the nation’s security situation was greatly challenged by activities of violence and non-state actors.

“Today, I’m pleased to specifically note that the situation has tremendously improved and I wish to also highlight that we have made remarkable progress in the fight against insurgents, militants, oil bunkers, kidnappers, and other criminal elements in the country.

“The Nigerian Army that we celebrate today would not have been able to discharge its responsibilities,” Buhari said.

“The fighting power of our army was at a low rate as of May 2015. However, seven years later, its fighting power has increased significantly making it fourth in ranking among African militaries as against seventh in 2015.”

He noted that government interventions in the yearly budget allocation to the Army between 2020 and 2022 have been able to procure utilities and resources for the fight against insurgency.

Buhari said dore than sixty thousand soldiers have been recruited under his watch, saying his administration funded the military to ensure an increased in the fighting power of the Nigerian Army.

The trooping and presentation of colours parade is conducted when retiring the old colours of a regiment/unit and presenting the regiment/unit with a new one.

It is usually conducted once in 15 to 20 years as desired by the country’s armed forces but the last time such a parade was conducted in Nigeria was in 2007 when 32 units/regiments were issued with new colours.

The event saw the retiring and replacing 53 units’ regimental colours and issuance of 28 new ones for newly established units.

Speaking at the event, Buhari said, “Our interventions and budgetary allocation to the army between 2020 and 2022 alone has been able to procure hundreds of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, troops carrying vehicles, utility vehicles, tanks and armoured personnel carriers to augment those earlier procured from 2017 to 2022.

“Significant numbers of new fighting and utility vehicles, along with artillery guns, machine guns, rifles and correspondent ammunition were acquired and inducted into various theatres of operations.

“This will lead to significant increment in the animal equipment holding since 2015 with a significant improvement in the fighting power as a result of the procurement of equipment and mission specific training.”

The President further noted that the army had restructured the conduct of its operations to meet current realities, saying the quantum of platforms induced into the army since 2015 had enabled troops to take the battle to the terrorists and criminals, particularly in the North-East.

He added, “As an administration, we have demonstrated commitment to increase the strength of the armed forces in my resolve to secure the country against all challenges.

“It is instructive to state that from 2015, when I was sworn in as the President and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, I facilitated the recruitment of over 60,000 soldiers for the Nigerian army aside thousands of commissioned officers from the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.

“In the area of troops welfare, this administration has facilitated the approval of the Manual for Financial Administration which has greatly enhanced the pay and allowances of troops. This has no doubt boosted the troops morale and enhanced the deal. To discharge their constitutional mandate.

“Furthermore, in my resolve to cater for the families of disease personnel, over 50,000 children and wards of personnel who died in active service on the Nigerian Army Scholarship from 2015 to date.

“In terms of infrastructural development, this administration has made determined efforts to surmount the deficit in accommodation and other amenities.”

Buhari added that the trooping and presentation of colours parade was significant considering the establishment and operationalisation of new units in line with the army’s increasing operational commitments.

“Today’s ceremony is a continuation of our efforts to reinvigorate the fighting secret of our troops through the inculcation of greater pride in their units.

“Let me use this medium to sincerely recommend the officers and men of the army, all members of the Armed Forces and other security agencies for their exceptional performance in various operations across the country. Since the inception of this administration, the nation’s security situation was greatly challenged by the activities of violent non-state actors.

“Today, I am pleased to specifically note that the situation has tremendously improved and I wish to also proudly highlight that we have made remarkable progress in the fight against insurgents, militants, oil bunkers, kidnappers and other criminal elements in the country.”

Deserving units who have played vital roles in securing the country were decorated at the event.

The President thanked the Chief of Defence Staff and also commended Nigerians for perseverance, adding that the country will continue to rely on support from all segments of the Nigerian society in ensuring the maintenance of peace and security of the nation.

Some other dignitaries that attended the event include former President, Goodluck Jonathan; former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon; and Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.