The president decorated newly promoted senior officers.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday in Abuja urged members of the armed forces to intensify their operations to curb the security challenge facing the country.

Mr. Jonathan, who made the call during the decoration of 46 newly promoted officers in the armed forces, stressed that much was expected from those to whom much was given.

“We must work together as a team to make sure that the armed forces are able to protect lives and property of Nigerians,” the president said.

“If we can’t do that, then of course, the reputation of the country will continue to go down.

“A number of issues are being raised in the media which you know much more than I do; there is so much challenge on the armed forces and other security agencies of this country.

“All of us, collectively, must stand up to our responsibilities and go the extra mile to see that we overcome these challenges,’’ he said.

Mr. Jonathan, while commending the armed forces, said he was impressed with what was going on in the services in the area of creativity and innovation.

He said for quite some time, those in leadership of the country, had not been doing things as they were supposed to be done.

According to him, there are many things that are supposed to have been provided for the armed forces that are yet to be provided.

“Now that we are faced with this challenge, we are overwhelmed by some incidents, but we will surely get over them. We will work with you to see what we can provide to make sure that you are in a position to defend lives and property of Nigerians.

“We will try to provide what you need to make sure that the environment is peaceful and that Nigerians can move freely from one part of the country to the other without fear of anybody pointing a trigger at them.’’

The President, while congratulating those promoted, urged them to use the promotion to work harder to protect Nigerians.

Responding on behalf of others, Major General Joseph Nimyel assured the president that the promotion would spur them to do more.

He thanked the President for finding them worthy of being promoted and for attending the decoration ceremony.

“Let me seize this opportunity to reiterate our dedication and total commitment to the duty and the nation’’, he said.

The Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, said the promotion was a source of inspiration for them to do more in line with their training.

Mr. Olukolade, who was also promoted, said the promoted officers would do their best to ensure that the highest security was provided for the country.

The second female Major-General in the Nigerian Army, Abimbola Amosun, said she was excited and thanked the president for her promotion.

“I thank the Commander-in-Chief because I know we have a lot of policies that have become gender friendly.’’

Twenty seven major-generals, six rear admirals and 15 air vice marshals were promoted.

(NAN)