The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Major General Lucky Irabor has urged telecommunications service providers operating within the shores of Nigeria to support the efforts by the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and other security agencies to apprehend perpetrators of crimes across the country.
The CDS made this known while granting audience to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Mobile Telecom Network (MTN) Nigeria, Mr Karl Toriola, who was on a familiarization visit to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Abuja.
Commenting on the current security challenges in the country, Maj Gen Irabor identified communication as part of the essential mechanism that could be used by the AFN and other security agencies to track down perpetrators of criminalities and nefarious activities.
He added that the DHQ is open to sustaining any fruitful engagement and partnership with all its stakeholders, including service providers, chief among which is MTN, in order to build a peaceful environment for economic activities to thrive.
While expressing his delight at the visit of the CEO and his team, the Defence chief commended MTN for playing invaluable roles in matters of communication on which the AFN and security agencies are leveraging, to boost their operations around the nation.
Maj Gen Irabor also congratulated Mr Karl Toriola on his appointment as the CEO of MTN Nigeria.
Earlier in his remarks, Mr. Toriola stated that prioritizing the defence sector, security and paramilitary agencies necessitated his first point of call since assumption of office.
The CEO further disclosed that the visit was also in recognition of the selfless sacrifices of members of the AFN in their service to the nation.
Mr Toriola reiterated that MTN as a telecoms service provider would continue to build cordial working relationships with all branches of government agencies, including engaging and aligning with the AFN and intelligence agencies in order to ensure security of lives and property of Nigerians.
