Minister of Defense, Major-General, Bashir Magashi, has inaugurated a 21-man committee on the reforms of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

According to a statement released by the media aide to the minister, Mohammed Magashi stated that military sector must be refined and clearly defined in compliance with the current global acceptable 21st century standards.

The statement which is titled, ‘Minister of Defence inaugurates committee to facilitate the reforms of ministry of defense and the armed forces of Nigeria’ urged the committee under the chairmanship of Air Vice, Marshal Mohammed Umaru (retd.), to see their assignment as a patriotic call to national service.

Members of the reform committee include a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin (retd.), Lt. Gen. Chikadibia Obiakor (retd.), former Assistant Secretary General Office of Military Affairs UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, New York, Alhaji Goni Aji; former Head of Service, Rear Admiral A. Adedeji (retd.), Maj.Gen. AM Jibril (retd.) and Rear Admiral F. Akpan; Special Adviser, Technical, to the Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Jibrin (retd.); Rear J. Ajani (retd.), and others.

Magashi also advised them to play their roles in defense of the country’s territorial integrity against the infractions of the insurgents, bandits and kidnappers, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari is optimistic that the recommendations of the committee at the end of their assignment would drive his campaign promise to return the military to its rightful place.

Also, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Musa Istifanus said the composition of the membership of the committee which has Air Commodore D. Abdullahi (retd.) as Secretary, was carefully selected to meet national representation and aspirations capable of delivering on their mandates.

The Chairman of the committee, Marshal Mohammed Umaru assured the minister of defense that the members would bring their wealth of experiences and expertise to bear in the discharge of their assigned task.