Colonel Sagir Resumes as Army Spokesperson… Pledges to Strengthen military-media relations
Building a robust synergy and effective mutual partnership between the Nigerian army and the media in support of vision of the Chief of Army Staff is one of the lofty aspirations of Colonel Sagir Musa, the newly-appointed acting Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR).
To this end, the Army Officer, has pledged to speedily evolve measures and identify potent ways that will help strengthen the already-existing relationship between the military and media, with a view to winning the war against insurgency and other sundry crimes across the nation.
“It is pertinent that both sacred institutions worked together, in an atmosphere devoid of rancor, enmity and bitterness. While, it is heart-warming that our very distinguished Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen.. Tukur Buratai has commendably raised the bar in terms of military- media relations, I will, as the new spokesperson for the Nigerian army leverage on the already set working standards. This, among others, is needed to be consolidated on the successes so far unarguably recorded in the various military activities across the country,” he said.
He noted that other acts of criminalities threatening the country’s corporate existence will be effectively checkmated by the time both the two institutions resolve to work harmoniously and as partners in nation-building.
Col. Musa, who resume office today observed that failure to build an effective synergy between the army and press has the potential to truncate the giant efforts of the military in totally combating the menace of Boko Haram and activities of other deadly militia groups.
Born on 25 October 1967, the new Army spokesperson is a fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Corporate Administration (CICA) and West African Society for Communication and Administration (WASCA). He is also a member of both the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
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The army image-maker possesses a B.Sc degree in Political Science from Bayero University Kano (BUK), and Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) Lagos, among others.
In 2015, Col. Musa bagged a Distinction in Masters of Arts in Security and Intelligence Studies from Buckingham University, United Kingdom (UK).
The top army officer equally attended the Strategic Communication Courses at Nigerian Army School of Public Relations, Lagos; National Institute of Public Information, Kaduna and the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), Abuja.’
Colonel Musa has held several key positions in NA, including been Assistant and Deputy Director of Army Public Relations Units at various divisions. He was once the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Military Administrator of Cross River between 1997 and 1998, while he served as Aide-De-Camp (ADC) to the Military Administrator of Kaduna State from 1998 to 1999.
Colonel Musa was military spokesperson for major operations in the country. He was instrumental to curtailing the propaganda activities of gun-toting militants as the spokesperson of ‘Operation Flush-Out 111’ during the heat of militancy in Niger Delta, between 2006 and 2008.
Other operations he was actively involved in as media arrowhead include ‘Operation Restore Order and Operation Bayona during the heat of Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East. Similarly, he was in the forefront of media campaigns during ‘Operation Silver Jubilee,’ ‘Operation Python Dance 1 and 2,’ ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ and Operation Ayem Akpatuma all in the South-East and North Central respectively.
As a result of his outstanding capacity and professional excellence, Col. Musa has received several commendation letters and awards, such as the Chief of Army Staff Commendation letter in 2006 and the ‘Award for Best Overall Participant in Strategic Communication CSE 1, NASPRI in 2016.’
He is also honoured with Forces Services Star (FSS), Meritorious Service Star (MSS), Distinguished Service Star (DSS), General Operations Medal (GOM), Silver Jubilee Medal (SJM) and Command Medal (CM), among several other awards and letters of commendation.
Col. Musa is married with children, while travelling, reading and horse-riding are his hobbies.
