Nigerian Army engages in massive infrastructural renovation
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai recently commissioned some newly completed projects meant to enhance the professionalism of personnel within the Nigeria Army.
One of the commissioned projects was in Bonny Cantonment where the COAS commissioned the remodelled Nigerian Army College of Logistics (NACOL) student’s hostel.
The Chief of Army Staff who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans Army, Major-General Rasheed Yusuf, in his welcome address said that the Nigerian Army under the current visionary leadership has embarked on intervention and expansion projects which have improved the capabilities and capacity of troops to responsively discharge its constitutional roles.
Buratai in his remark through his representative identified training as a key part of military profession and said there was the need to focus on professional training and capacity building of personnel in diverse environments to enhance operational efficiency.
Similarly the COAS who also visited An Barracks in Yaba commissioned the newly renovated residential accommodation of the Commandant of the College.
The 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Yaba also benefitted from the series of renovation been done by the COAS.
The old dilapidated structure was remodelled, redesigned and reequipped.
Recall that the Chief of Army Staff was at the hospital in 2017 to commission the phase 1 of the renovation which has since been put into use.
He said, “The projects executed in phase 2 include; the renovation and re-equipped male and female surgical wards, the specialist clinic for surgery, medicine and psychiatry. A clinic and an isolation ward dedicated for the treatment of tuberculosis (DOTS Centre) has also be added.
“Beds, mattresses and furniture have been provided, in addition to air conditioning, television and intercom telephone lines. While commending the intervention of the Chief of Army Staff, he expressed optimism for the addition of some other projects in phase 3.
” The overall aim of this intervention projects is to ensure that facilities are friendly and receptive to both military and civilian clients as over 40 percent of the cases attended to here are civilians. I therefore urge that these facilities be put into proper use and personally manned by personnel of the Corp. ”
He enjoined the staff of the hospital to make judicious use of the facilities and ensure that they are optimally maintained.
The Corp Commander Medical, Major General Ikechukwu Okeke in his welcome remarks, noted with gratitude the intervention projects of the Chief of Army Staff which spreads throughout the formations and units in Nigerian army in particular, 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Kaduna and now 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Yaba.
The Commandant of the College, Major General Richard Duru thanked the Chief of Army Staff for his commitment for infrastructural rehabilitation in all Nigerian Army schools as well as his support for enhanced capacity in the Nigerian Army through improved training in logistics.
He stated that the College has been operating from temporary sites since inception which has imposed a lot of constraints, limited the expansion and full development of the College.
He expressed his profound gratitude to the Chief of Army Staff for his effort in ameliorating the current challenges and his immense support to the College.
