COAS: The Army has Acquired Electronic Warfare
Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, on Monday in Abuja, at the opening of the Maiden Cyber Security Workshop of the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare School, tagged “Role of Information Technology to National Security against upcoming threats and Cyber-attacks.”
The chief of Army Staff represented by the Deputy Director-General, of Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Maj.-Gen. Sanusi Dahiru, Lagbaja disclosed that the Nigerian Army has acquired electronic warfare capabilities which has made them now taking advantage of the convergence of electronic and cyber warfare.
Maj.-Gen. Sanusi Dahiru, Lagbaja told the journalist that: “This is because ICT networks are also dependent upon the myriad properties of the Electro Magnetic Spectrum for their essential connectivity in cyberspace, an environment where several actors operate to create exponential effects when compared to other domains.
“I therefore urge the school to hold and expand this collaboration until we find the ability to play the role of second eleven in this field.
“The workshop should not only focus on cybersecurity but should include cyber warfare, as this will equip the Nigerian Army with expertise and knowledge of integrating cybersecurity into military doctrine and tactics as well as exploring the role of cyber warfare in contemporary military operations,” he added.
Lagbaja stated that cyber threats could come from many sources, including foreign organizations, hacktivists, governments, groups, criminals as well and individuals, adding that cyber-attacks were increasingly targeting critical infrastructure such as power grids, financial systems, healthcare organizations, and government networks.
“It is for this reason that the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command (NACWC) and NACWS were established to curb the threats posed by this domain.
“For all the participants, you must use this singular opportunity to learn as much as you can, open up new vistas and perspectives so that we can achieve landmark results for the army and the nation at large,”
The COAS eulogized President Bola Tinubu for his support and assured the president that military t would continue to remain professional, and ever-ready to defend Nigeria from any attacks.
Brig.-Gen. Abdullahi Ahmad, the Commandant, NACWS, earlier stated that the school was established to train the army personnel with the ability to fight cyber-crime both now and in future operations.
The commandant also made it known that NACWS was established to curtail the threats posed by terrorists and other criminal elements who have taken over to exploit cyberspace and the Nigerian Army’s Information and Communications systems. In addition, he said that the workshops were designed to educate the army on modern trends in cybersecurity and, indeed, cyber warfare and to create a forum for erudite scholars, and relevant stakeholders and ensure COAS command philosophy.
He said: “The philosophy is to transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped, and highly motivated force towards achieving our constitutional responsibilities within a joint environment”.