DG of NARC said understanding local languages key to security op success.
The Nigerian Army’s Chief of Administration, Major General Okpe Ali, has said that the understanding of the major indigenous languages by the troops of the Armed Forces will enhance their operations. Chief Ali made this revelation during the inauguration of the Indigenous Language Course 12/2023, which was organized by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) in Abuja on March 23, 2023. He said the conduct of the previous 11 courses recorded tremendous success and informed the need to continue with the program.
Army Chief Okpe Ali stated that the 12th batch was being conducted for officers and soldiers of 2nd Division, 81st Division and Army Headquarters’ departments and units within Abuja. As he said, the aim of conducting the ILC is to ensure that army personnel are proficient in the three major indigenous languages of Nigeria — Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa. “Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multilingual society with the largest number of indigenous languages in the West African Sub-Region as well as the most populous nation on the African continent,” he said. Nigeria boasts of at least 500 indigenous languages, second to only Papua New Guinea with the most languages. Nigeria also has about 250 ethnic groups.
Ethnic heterogeneity necessitates troop deployment to almost all states.
Maj. Gen. Ali said that Nigeria with its large population and ethnic heterogeneity as well as its large population are factors contributing to conflicts which pose serious challenges in the management of internal security. He said this can be seen in the high and volatile level of ethno-religious conflicts and increase in the number of violent non-state actors and groups across the country. The threats that these groups pose in fueling conflicts have necessitated the deployment of troops in almost all the 36 states of the federation for internal security operations in aid of civil authorities.
For this cause, he said it is important for and needed that army personnel to understand the local languages, especially in the areas where they operate. It will build trust and confidence in troops by the locals. The major general added that the 2016 Order of Battle and its subsequent implementation had led to the establishment of new formations and units across the country where most of the residents spoke only their indigenous languages. He said that the situation requires that all Nigerian army officers and soldiers have the basic knowledge of the three major languages that are widely spoken within the Nigerian operational environment.
Language is part of the 21st century operational environment.
The Army Chief said that among other things, this will promote esprit-de-corps among personnel; gives troops the ability to effectively communicate with the locals and most importantly assist in gathering intelligence which is necessary for the execution of assigned tasks. He said that the 21st century operational environment had changed with the emergence of the human domain of operation, which, according to him, comprises humans as physical beings, thoughts of the mind, action and what they create.
He said the military’s objective in the human domain was the ability to influence targeted individuals and groups better than the adversary. According to him, languages are seen as the best mirrors of the human mind, which in turn determine action and events. Hence, a key requirement for success in the human domain operation is the ability to communicate with the local population. This is hinged on mastery of indigenous languages within the operating environment.
Deployment of troops makes it imperative to know local languages.
The Director General of NARC, Retired Major General Garba Wahab, also said understanding of local languages by troops was essential to achieving success in the ongoing internal security operations across the country. He said that the deployment of the military in nearly all the states of the federation had made it imperative for the army personnel to be able to communicate in local languages rather than English. According to him, there are some words that army personnel find very difficult to translate. But when the people and the troops understand each other, it is easier to deal with locals and people from particular areas and speak their language. Mr. Wahab said the centre was planning to expand the course to other local languages other than the three major Nigerian languages.
Related Link
NARC: Website
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Troops perform better with language knowledge – DG of NARC said understanding local languages key to security op success. – Express your point of view.
It is very important for the troops to know and understand local languages. It will help them combat better and be able to communicate well.
Understanding the regional languages is crucial for army personnel, especially in the areas where they conduct operations. It will increase confidence and trust while helping people understand the environment.
Troops perform better with language knowledge. Is not necessary that u will know all the language, I more better for you to be posted on your region
I like as we are trying to promote our language because this will put our local dialects on the map and more people amd countries will know about us. Great
Yeah, our Nigerian army is awesome because the ILC will help test recruits’ ability to communicate in Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo, and that is what we need in our forces. .
It is absolutely incomprehensible that the country is experiencing such a dangerous and elevated level of ethno-religious conflicts, as well as a growth in the number of tribalism in the country.
Understanding language of locals in your region would help troops get intel, communicate with the locals
There’d also be bonding which would help the locals feel safe
Troops learning better with language knowledge is good it will help in communicating and associate with people in the region without having issue in communicating
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It’s unfortunate that Nigeria’s ethnic diversity and big demographic both play a role in the country’s ongoing conflicts and present formidable obstacles to effective intelligence gathering control.
Having the army understand local languages can’t go to waste as it will build trust and confidence in troops by the locals where they operate.
It will be more easily for our troop is talking and passing information to those in the region if they learn languages
Language is a very important factor that should always be considered. This is a firm of unity in the country’s security forces.
A rise in tribalism and the prevalence of dangerous ethno-religious conflicts in the country defy explanation. We need to beware.
The better the troops can learn the language, the easier it will be for them to communicate and form relationships with locals.
Language signify lots of things and one of the easiest way to communicate.When two people understand same language,they communicate better.
Unfortunately, Nigeria’s recurrent hostilities are fueled in part by the country’s ethnic diversity and large population, both of which create substantial challenges to effective information collecting and control.
The use of language is a very significant consideration that should constantly be given attention. This demonstrates that there is complete harmony among the nation’s various security forces.
This knowledge can help security personnel interact more effectively with local communities, gather intelligence, and facilitate communication among different parties. In addition, speaking the local language can build trust and respect, which can be critical for successful security operations in various settings.
It is so obvious that if the Nigerian troops can have knowledge of the three major language in the country they will perform better. Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multilingual society with over 500 different dialect and 250 ethnic groups.It is therefore important for our troops to master the three languages.
Nigeria been a country of multiple cultures with over 500 dialet and 250 ethnic group, it is very essential that Nigeria troops understand the three major languages of the country for effective operations.