The Nigerian military, in response to President Muhammadu Buhari’s inauguration speech, has started planning for the relocation of the Command and Control Centre of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) to Maiduguri. The North-Eastern city is regarded as the epicenter of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east.
In compliance with the directive, Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Chris Olukolade, informed journalists on Monday, June 1, 2015 that the military authorities were already working to ensure that the relocation was effected as quickly as possible.
Although the Army spokesman did not specify the date or details of when the order would be implemented, he confirmed that the modalities were being worked out for the relocation.
“The necessary details and implementation strategies are already being worked out,” he said.
The relocation of the DHQ was President Buhari’s first directive as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. He ordered the transfer of the command centre from the service headquarters in Abuja to Maiduguri, the Borno capital, in order to bring the insurgency to a quick and decisive end.
President Buhari’s order, which was made during his inaugural speech last Friday (May 29, 2015), has however divided opinion among stakeholders in defence and security circles, with some describing it as a sound strategic move and others viewing it as a tactical misstep.
