Armed Forces Half Marathon Championship: CDS Tasks Security Agencies on Collaboration to Safeguard the Nation
By Anthonia Okwuolise, Abuja
In a celebration mood, alongside other sister security agencies, General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has urged security personnel to work collectively to fulfill the mandate of safeguarding Nigeria and defending its territorial integrity.
General Musa stated this during the fourth edition of the Chief of Defence Staff Armed Forces and other Security Agencies, Half Marathon Championship in Abuja on Saturday 9 December 2023.
In the auspicious event General Musa made it known that the military is committed to preserving the robust relationship with other security agencies.
He emphased and underscored the importance of ongoing efforts to mitigate collaboration and foster sincerity in their collective efforts.
According to the CDS, “I therefore urge the participating services and security agencies in this epoch event to see themselves as members of a larger security family.
“You are significantly indispensable in the implementation of the security architecture of the country. Though playing different roles and approaching your jobs with different strategies in matters of national security, you must appreciate and protect each other as partners and co-stakeholders in the overriding task of securing our dear nation, ” he said.
He further said, that the Defence Headquarters will continue to project the excellent relationship with other security agencies and seeking areas for more collaboration and enhancing synergy of efforts.
He said, “I have no doubt in my mind that by building bridges of understanding through healthy competition, the efforts and sacrifices in defending the country from external aggression or internal insurrection, will be a lot easier.
“In the light of this, the Half Marathon Championship will be used as a testing ground for the Armed Forces and Security Agencies Games to bring out our best to represent us in International Competitions. That unity among security agencies will foster public trust in us and improve their appreciation of our enormous sacrifices in confronting these security challenges.
“I therefore, urge you to continue to be guided, at all times, by the sense of professionalism and spirit of sportsmanship in the discharge of your sacred duties.
In continuation, he said,
“I would like to seize this opportunity to appreciate the service chiefs and head of security agencies for making it possible for their officers and men to participate in this event.
“I also thank the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Federal Ministry of Sports which has provided us with professional advice on how to organize this event and also make it of international standard.
“I applaud the organizing committee for working tirelessly in this event to make it a successful one. My regards also goes to our revered and esteemed sponsors and media partners who have made their services and products available to us and making sure the objective of this event is achievable.
“Let me also thank our veterans serving and retired who have taken time out of their tired schedule to honour our invitation; we appreciate your sacrifices for the nation,” General Musa said.
In a statement, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, the representative of Minister of Defence, expressed the support of the Ministry for the Armed Forces.
In the statement, he said, “To ensure the state of readiness of the Nigerian Armed Forces for any intervention whether in land, air or sea and in other to maintain that state of readiness and it is to ensure that we organize that regular sporting events like this everyone knows that physical activities such as running especially marathon is the best form of maintain and sustaining physical fitness, therefore the Ministry of Defence fully supports the Defence Headquarters in organizing this and of course we all know that we are in an era where there is a public private partnership and therefore we thank all the donors that supported this event and that we are hoping that with the donations provided this year we hope to get even more next year and for the ministry we will continue to give all the moral support especially as we are receiving from his excellency Mr President federal Republic of Nigeria in boosting the morale of the Nigerian Armed Forces, ” the statement concluded.
Deborah Pam from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps emerged as the female category winner, completing the race in 1 hour, 22 minutes, and 37 seconds in the half marathon.
While Steven Joshua from the Federal Fire Service clinched victory in the male category, finishing the race in 1 hour and 8 minutes.
Meanwhile, in the group competition, Nigerian Army secured first place in both male and female categories, with the Nigeria Police Force claiming second place and the Air Force securing third place. The tournament featured over 250 athletes, including both male and female participants, along with 70 veterans from the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies.
The winners of the marathon were rewarded with coveted brand new cars. The second and third runners-up received cash prizes ranging from N750,000 and N1 million, respectively.
One of the participants in the event, Muhammad Kabir spoke to our Correspondent. He came from the Directorate of Army Physical Training in Abuja, an ex-boy who successfully completed the marathon. Kabir expressed his delight and shared his ambition in the up coming events.
Asked about his motivating force behind his winning positions, the champions and other participants attributed his success to resilience, hard work and determination.
“You have to keep emphasizing and never give up. Militay should continue to search and nurture more talented personnels that would represent Nigeria in the whole world championship.
