Defeat terrorism to secure Nigeria’s development, COAS urges troops
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi O. Oluyede, has charged troops to intensify efforts in combating terrorism and other security challenges facing the country.
Addressing the troops at the 3 Division Headquarters in Jos on Tuesday, the army chief, who has been in Plateau State for the past two days following terrorist attacks in Bokkos communities that left over 50 persons dead, emphasized that without peace, there can be no development.
He urged soldiers to be more dutiful and committed to their duties.
“Let me tell you that I appreciate what you are doing in the 3 Division, Nigerian Army, in checkmating all the challenges.
The challenges are all over Nigeria. And I can tell you that the entire Nigeria and Nigerians are depending on us to curtail all these challenges. The challenges range from terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery and whatever name it is called. I can tell you that Nigerians are looking forward to us to make things better.
“And I want to emphasize here that if we don’t make things better, there cannot be any development. So, whether you are travelling and you are seeing bad roads, it’s all because Nigeria is challenged in terms of insecurity.
“So, the money that is being used to tackle the insecurity, if we can curtail these challenges—these monies can be channelled elsewhere by the government to make things better for all of us.
“So, what am I saying? It’s important for us to look at it from that angle and be more dutiful and be more committed as Nigerians and as soldiers, particularly, so that we can do our jobs better”, he stated.
The COAS highlighted the need for soldiers to look beyond their immediate tasks and consider the broader impact of their work on the nation’s development.
He added, “When you look at our constitutional responsibilities and to support civil authorities to make things better and safer in Nigeria, then I charge you to do more, and it is imperative that you do more because, without peace, there cannot be any development.
“So, as army, we will try to lead you well and provide as much as possible based on what has been given by the government. I have the assurances of the government and the Commander-in-Chief to make things better for the army, and that he is doing, and he has promised to do more. So, on my own, I promise to do my best to make things better, and on your own part, you must give your best to Nigeria. So, we have a covenant established.”
The COAS emphasised his commitment to improving soldiers’ welfare and well-being, citing initiatives such as a housing scheme and loan programmes. He assured troops of the government’s support and commitment to making things better for the army.
“As Chief of Army Staff, I’m committed to making things better—your welfare and well-being—and that’s why you see me going around to make things better. There is something that has always been of concern to me since I was a Lieutenant Colonel, and that for me to see soldiers who have spent 35 years in the Army, and by the time they are exiting, they don’t have a place to go. So, where my predecessor stopped, we have continued with our housing scheme. We have commissioned the first set of 400 houses in Abuja.
“We are building another set. We are building in Benin, and we have started another one in Ibadan. Please, subscribe to the scheme and you will get your house. No scam there. There is no place you can get a 3-bedroom flat in Nigeria for N8 million. So, we are looking for money from other sources to support the scheme so that when soldiers are leaving the service, they can have a house to keep their families. We also have loan schemes in the army, but I will advise you not to take any loan if you don’t have any pressing challenge, because usually, it is easier to collect a loan than to pay it.
“Another thing we are looking at is our schools generally. We have realized that most of our schools are in a bad state, and I challenge the Nigerian Army Corps of Education to come up with an action plan so that we can tackle these challenges. I want to see soldiers produce doctors, lawyers, and engineers. So, I’m going to take the issue of education headlong so that our children can go to school and become very important people tomorrow”, he further stated.
The COAS directed the renovation of ten new blocks within the barracks and a school for soldiers’ children. He appreciated the troops’ efforts in addressing security challenges, including terrorism, kidnapping, and armed robbery, which are prevalent across the country.
To further tackle the issue of education, the COAS challenged the Nigerian Army Corps of Education to develop an action plan to improve the state of schools. He expressed his desire to see soldiers raise professionals like doctors, lawyers, and engineers.
PUNCH Online reports that the Chief of Army Staff commissioned some projects during his visit to the 3 Division, including the Headquarters of the 23 Support Engineers Regiment.
