Philip Nwosu
The Nigerian Army has called on its personnel to work towards ensuring the unity of Nigeria in the execution of their roles and tasks as soldiers.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai who gave the charge said military personnel must not lose focus of the challenges ahead of them in ensuring a more united and safer Nigerian union.
Buratai spoke at the 2019 West African Social Activities (WASA) of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps, urging members of the corps to work in line with his vision of seeking a professionally-responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional role.
The army chief who was represented by the Commander of the Nigerian Army Signals Corps, Major General Mohammed Mohammed, urged the officers and men of the Ordnance Corps to redouble their effort in all activities of the force to ensure success in 2019.
Earlier, the Commander of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps Major General Joel Unuigbe commended officers and men of the corps for their participation in all Nigerian Army activities in 2018, saying that the corps provided logistics support to all Nigerian Army training exercise through effective leadership, welfare of personnel and resilience of the officers and men of the corps.
He commended the corps for its participation in Exercise Shrin Harbi III, Harbib Kunama III, Egwueke III and Crocodile Smile III, saying that the corps as a leading component in the Combat Services Support successfully participated in the exercises.
General Unuigbe said that the activities of the various exercises by the Nigerian Army had helped in checking criminal activities and other forms of crimes within the country, adding that “the counter-insurgency operation in the North East of Nigeria is achieving great success and the Ordnance Corps will continue to contribute to the success through prompt responses to operational requirements of arms, ammunition and clothing items among others to enhance combat capability and efficiency.”
While speaking on troops of the corps fighting in the various military campaign theatres across the country, the Corps Commander said the corps would continue to rotate its personnel to improve not only the morale of its personnel but also that of their families.
He said: “In 2018, over 100 personnel were successfully rotated bringing the total number of troops so far rotated to about 400. I must commend the efforts of our troops in the operations and acknowledge their discipline and commitment as there has been no adverse report concerning their conducts.”
General Unuigbe applauded the Nigerian Army headquarters, particularly the Chief of Army Staff, for reaching out to the corps and assisting it to complete some of its infrastructural projects, adding “we have continued to compliment the efforts of the COAS and also build on the laudable legacies of all the past corps commanders.”