From Teryima Ajijah, Jos
Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) has congratulated President Buhari for the recent appointment of new service chiefs.
The forum, through it chairman, and governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, said the appointment is apt and well deserved.
A press statement issued by Dr Makut Simon Macham, the Director of Press and Public Affairs to Governor Lalong, noted with satisfaction the appointment of the security chiefs, appreciating the immediate past service chiefs for their services to the nation.
The release by Macham reads in part: “The Northern Governors Forum has welcomed the appointment of new Service Chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari and also commended the out-gone Service chiefs for giving their best in the service of the nation.”
In the statement, Governor Lalong said the forum commends the president for taking the decision and asked the new service chiefs to put in their best, not only to meet the expectations of the Commander-in-Chief, but also that of Nigerians who have high expectations for enhanced security and safety of lives and properties.
Governor Lalong charged them to build on the successes of their predecessors and also learn from their challenges, in order to address the lingering problems of terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes that the nation has been battling to contain.
Lalong assured the service chiefs of the support and collaboration of the NGF in addressing insecurity in the region and the nation as a whole, in order to enable the citizens pursue their legitimate businesses without any hindrance.
He appealed to Nigerians to support and pray for the new service chiefs as they provide leadership for the patriotic officers and men of the Armed Forces to put up a final onslaught against protracted security challenges.
The Governor also thanked the former service chiefs for their courage, sacrifices and commitment to protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and dealing with internal threats during their stewardship, and wished them well in their future endeavours.