Philip Nwosu

The Chief of Army Staff, (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has said that the interventions of the force in terms of welfare for troops have helped in successes achieve by the Nigerian Army in counter insurgency operations in the North East.

The COAS made this declaration in Lagos at the commissioning of the re-modelled Nigerian Army College of Logistics (NACOL) students’ hostel, Bonny Cantonment and the NACOL guesthouse at Ann Barracks in Lagos.

Buratai, who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Maj. Gen. Rasheed Yusuf said: “These interventions and expansions have improved our capability and capacity to responsibly discharge our constitutional roles, especially in the current counter-insurgency operations in the North East.”

He said that old equipment of the force are being remodelled and retrofitted through innovation and technology adaptation, explaining that the construction of new barracks across the country is not only to address the current deficits but to provide office and residential accommodation to newly established units and formations.

In the past three years, Buratai said, the Nigerian Army has embarked on a number of interventions in the areas of barracks renovation, procurement of new equipment, improvement on its lift capacity, construction of new barracks, rehabilitation and equipment of hospital, amongst others. He added that in the training of personnel,  “new instructors are being employed including the re-engagement of retired and discharged personnel to enhance professional training. Nigerian Army focuses on professional training and capacity building of its personnel under conducive environment to enhance operational efficiency.” The corps commander, NACOL, Maj Gen. Richard Duru who also spoke at the event said: “NACOL was established in 2002 with the mandate of training middle cadre officers in the planning, management and execution of logistics support for the Nigerian Army in joint and combined operations at formations and higher levels using modern management techniques.”

Similarly, Major General Ikechukwu Okeke said that, “the old dilapidated structures have been remodelled, redesigned and re-equipped. The confidence of our military and civilian clients is being restored in the services available in the healthcare facilities in the army.  “This has further translated in boosting the morale of troops engaged in various security operations within and outside the country. The completion of phase II of the upgrade and renovation of 68 NARHY will no doubt increase the capacity of the hospital in the discharge of its role as a tertiary health institution.”