The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, on Sartuday inaugurated a 60,000-litre overhead water project at Hayin Banki community of Kaduna North LGA of Kaduna State.
Lagbaja, represented by the Infantry Corps Commander, Maj.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, said the project was the COAS special intervention civil-military cooperation projects aimed at the development of communities of Nigerian Army senior officers who rose to the rank of Maj.- Gen.
He said the initiative was geared towards fostering and improving civil-military relations and also in line with his command’s philosophy and commitment to the welfare of
troops.
Lagbaja, therefore said the projects executed by the Generals on behalf of the Nigerian Army were carefully selected and executed, to improve the standard of living in communities where troops operated.
He added that the projects were also to complement the existing facilities and infrastructure provided by government at all levels.
The COAS stressed that the water project would no doubt help address the perennial water shortage facing the community.
He mentioned the projects executed so far across the country by the Nigerian Army to include construction/rehabilitation of hospitals and schools, construction of community town halls and provision of solar lighting systems.
Others include sinking of boreholes, construction of laboratories, provision of ICT facilities and construction of roads.
He urged the community to take ownership of the project and
maintain it for their benefit.
The COAS restated the Nigerian Army’s committment to continue pursuing both kinetic and
non-kinetic lines of operations in collaboration with other security agencies and well-meaning citizens to improve the security situation across the country.
“Nigerian Army is the people’s army, the place of the people in our operations is paramount,” he said.
Earlier, the Nigerian Army’s Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Maj.-Gen. NC Ugbo, stated that the army had made
tremendous achievements and continued to strive to impact positively on the lives of troops and communities across the country.
He said the Nigerian Army projects across Nigeria were in line with the COAS philosophy aimed at transforming the Nigerian Army
into a well motivated and equipped force.
Ugbo explained that the joint
environment entailed all peace-loving Nigerians, organisations and agencies to collaborate, support and keep faith with the Nigerian Army towards the conduct of its activities.
Also, Maj.-Gen. Abdul-Khalifa Ibrahim, who hailed from the Hayin Banki community, thanked the COAS for approving the project to be sited in his community.
Ibrahim is the Deputy National Coordinator of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Ibrahim said that Hayin Banki was not just a community to him, but a home where he spent a part of his early life.
“It is a community that I hold and cherish so dearly. Our proximity to the military barracks had over the years, made us more than just neighbours; we consider ourselves an annex of the barracks and have over the years enjoyed a robust relationship with the military.
“It is worthy to note that this community has proudly produced distinguished sons and daughters who have served and still serving in various capacities within the
military, further solidifying our connection,” he said.
He stressed that access to clean and abundant water was a fundamental
human right.
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He urged the community to take responsibility of ownership, maintenance, and sustainability of the project, while working together to ensure that it was utilised effectively to benefit generations to come.
On behalf of the community, the Ward Head of Hayin Banki, Mahmood Galadima, thanked the Nigerian Army for the gesture.
He said the water project would go a long way in cushioning the community’s hardships in accessing water. (NAN)
