The 3-day capacity Workshop on 3 Days Civil Military Exchange with the members of the Nigeria Navy on Understanding of Civil-Military Relations kicked off with introductions and welcome address for participants to get to know each other.
After the introductions, it was observed that participants were drawn from the Nigerian Navy, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), media and community representatives from conflict prone areas.
The Resource person, Professor Freedom Onohua explained that the prolonged and evolving nature of the peace and security challenges across Nigeria has encouraged, rightly or wrongly, the increased use of military architectures for internal security issues within the country. From insurgency, pervasive militancy and kidnapping, to banditry, herders/farmers clashes, separatist agitations, communal clashes, cultism and gang wars, et cetera; military formations have continued to be used in internal security matters. He posited that any robust and potent national security engagement must support wide (horizontal and vertical) and informed public engagement between state and non-state actors (ordinary citizens) on policies, strategies and structures.
Speaking further the resource person stated that although the activities of these military operations are contributing to combating security challenges in Nigeria, their activities have come under heavy public criticism. This is due to several infractions bordering on human rights violations experienced at the hands of military personnel to civilians in crisis-affected areas in the country, thereby dampening civil-military relations.
The 3 days training is aimed at facilitating an understanding of civil-military relationship amongst multipliers from military, media, young people, women and CSOs from conflict-affected areas across Nigeria trained participants on human rights, civil-military relations to aid a deeper understanding of their roles and limitations.
