Military activates measures against COVID-19, distances self from states lockdown orders

The Defence Headquarters says it has  activated measures to aid the civil authorities in the ongoing fight against the Coronavirus pandemic, adding that enforcement of the lockdown imposed by state governments not part of such measures.

Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, who briefed journalists at the Defence Headquarters, said that the Nigerian Armed Forces has adopted a two-pronged approach including medical and security approaches.

General noted that, the intervention is non-kinetic with major features of Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) activities, which is in line with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) lines of conducting contemporary military operations in Nigeria.

He disclosed that retired medical personnel will be recalled to boost manpower in the designated medical facilities.

According to him, “sequel to the on-going fight against the spread of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the Federal government of Nigeria, the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has put measures in place to aid the civil authorities.

“As you may be aware, Section 217 (2) c of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), empowers the Military to act in aid of civil authority.
“Consequently, a committee was constituted at the Defence Headquarters to ensure that the AFN provides the necessary support to the Federal Government of Nigeria, at this period. It is mainly a non-kinetic military operation with major features of Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) activities. Equally, it is in line with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) lines of conducting contemporary military operations in Nigeria”.

He added that “in this regard, the Armed Forces of Nigeria has developed a Two-Pronged approach to fight the pandemic, namely; the medical and security approaches. The medical approach is the deployment of military personnel in aid of all Ministries Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government through the provision of land, maritime and air assets, for transportation of emergency cases and medical supplies, as was the case with the medical supplies donated by the Jack Ma Foundation.

“Furthermore, under the medical aid, we have 17 medical facilities spread across the Country, which have been designated for isolation and treatment of confirmed cases of the COVID-19. We have also concluded plans to recall our retired medical personnel to complement those in active service.

” On Security Related Support, the Armed Forces of Nigeria will activate its Disaster Response Units across the Country in conjunction with National Emergency Management Agency. These units will be responsible for security management of emergencies other than medicals.

The Defence Headquarters hereby assures the general public of its total commitment to the human security effort of the Federal Government of Nigeria”.