Chief of Army Staff, (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has urged the Nigerian Army to remain committed in the discharge of their duties for ensuring peace and stability in the country.
Buratai disclosed this during the celebration of the Nigerian Army West Africa Social Activities (WASA) organised by the Nigerian Army Finance Corps (NAFC), which ended late Saturday in Apapa, Lagos.
Buratai, represented by the General Officer Commanding(GOC), 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Babatunde Oyefolu said the Nigerian Army must remain focused, dedicated and resilient in order to consolidate on the achievements recorded so far.
“May I pay my tribute to our fallen heroes who paid the supreme prize to keep the country safe.
“May their gentle soul rest in perfect peace and may the Almighty God grant their families the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.
“As we commence another training circle, I urge you all to remain committed in the discharge of your collective responsibility of ensuring peace and stability across the country.
“You must remain focus, dedicated and resilient in order to consolidate on the achievements so far recorded.
“WASA is among the rich tradition of the Nigerian Army which promotes team spirits and confidence within and outside the barack community.
It is also a forum for informal and social interaction and an avenue for the barrack community to showcase the various rich and diversified cultural environment of our great nation.
“The 2016 training year has been quite eventful and successfully conducted in the army.
“Some important activities which hitherto were suspended due to commitments of troops in various internal and external operations were revived in 2016.
“Such activities include the Nigerian Army Sports Festival which was held last year after a brief of seven years.
“This and other exercises have significantly gone a long way in curbing and reducing criminality and other nefarious activities.
“The climax of these exercises and operations was the ‘Operation Rescue Finale’ in the North East which led to the fall of the Sambisa forest and the capture of camp zero in 2016.
“Therefore, we all have reasons to celebrate and thank the Almighty God for these great achievements in year 2016.
“I commend the Acting Chief of Account and Budget, Army, officers and soldiers, for their selflessness in the financial management of scarce resources and vigilance towards keeping the country safe.
“I urge you to sustain the tempo and remain proactive in the conduct of your duties.
“I want to reassure you that the army will continue to look inward to the welfare of personnel and their families with the support of President Muhammad Buhari.
“We will not relent in our current effort of providing decent accommodation and other social ammenity to our personnel in the year 2017.
“We will also ensure that our troops are provided with adequate logistics in all operational areas,” he said.
The army chief also commended the efforts of the Senate committee on army towards their efforts in ensuring that the army fulfil it’s mandate while wishing everyone a meritorious 2017.
Earlier, the Chief of Account and Budget, Nigerian Army, (NAFC), Brig.-Gen. Jahadi Jakko, during his opening remarks, said that WASA was customarily observed to mark the end of the training year and usher in a New Year.
”With great sense of humility, I want to welcome everyone to WASA for year 2016.
“It is with this that the COAS directed all units and formations to organise year 2016 WASA.
“The word WASA literally means play in Hausa which is exactly why we are here today, ” he said.
Jakko said that the Nigerian Army has successfully been operating under the Treasury Single Account aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability.
“I want to thank the COAS for approving the conduct of this WASA and his unrivaled commitment to the welfare of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army.
“I also want to thank other sister agencies for their contributions to the successes we achieved in 2016 and urge for more support this year,” he said.
Jakko commended the soldiers for discipline and dedication during the year and called for peaceful coexistence.
The event was marked by officers, soldiers and their families with varieties of activities that included tug of war, cultural dances and songs.
The colourful event also featured cultural dances by the Tiv, Yoruba and musicians, the National Cultural Dance Troupe as well as the presentation of gifts and awards to distinguished soldiers and the special guest.
A cross section of people who converged at the Barracks described the annual event as entertaining and a major avenue to mingle and share goodwill between civilians and the soldiers and their families.
The event attracted top military brass both serving and retired, captains of industry to the occasion.
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