By Tony Adibe
Maj.-Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye, the General Commanding Officer (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, has charged officers on sound operational planning, rehearsals, and readiness during single, joint, and multi-sectoral security operations.
Olatoye gave the charge while declaring open a four-day 82 Division Operations Planning Cadre (Training) 2025 for military, paramilitary, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) officers on Tuesday in Enugu.
According to him, there should be no assumption in operations, as only intentional and sound operational planning, as well as continuous rehearsals of plans, will surely lead to operational successes. He said that the training was “an opportunity to sharpen skills for effective leadership in today’s complex security environment”.
“The cadre is designed to refresh and deepen our knowledge for the operational planning process, thereby preparing us to operate confidently in single service, joint service, and multi-agency service,” he said.
The GOC said that the training was in line with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Command Philosophy, adding that “to translate the philosophy into reality, planning and leadership are paramount”.
“This cadre represents one of the Division’s deliberate efforts to equip personnel of the Nigerian Army, and those of sister services, as well as other security agencies, with operational training for improved outcomes.
“The battle space we have today is unlike the past; it is fluid and unpredictable and heightened by asymmetric threats; while it demands the ability to think critically and act decisively,” he said.
Olatoye said that the Division’s Area of Responsibility (AoR) is bedevilled by secessionist agitations, armed robbery, kidnapping, crude oil theft, Improvised Explosive Device (IED) threats, and farmers/herders’ clashes, among others.
He noted that training would enhance capacity in key areas such as: estimate process, military decision-making process, intelligence preparation of the battle space, and operational logistics, among others.
The GOC appreciated the COAS for the approval and provision for the training, entire operations, and activities of the Division. He appreciated the Nigerian Army War College, Abuja, and the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, for providing the resource persons for the training.
The GOC urged the participants to endeavour to learn and internalised all learnt as well as sharing experiences and ask questions where necessary for clarification. Participants of the training, which was held from Sept. 1 to Sept. 4, were drawn from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Police, and the Nigeria Immigration Service. Others are: the Nigeria Customs Service; Federal Road Safety Corps; Federal Fire Service; Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, the Department of State Security, and NEMA, among others.
