Connect with us

News

COAS EMBARKS ON WORKING TOUR OF 17 BRIGADE, CHARGES TROOPS TO UP OPERATIONAL TEMPO, CONDOLES THE YAR’ ADUAS, KATSINA GOVERNMENT

Published

on

COAS EMBARKS ON WORKING TOUR OF 17 BRIGADE, CHARGES TROOPS TO UP OPERATIONAL TEMPO, CONDOLES THE YAR’ ADUAS, KATSINA GOVERNMENT

By: Our Reporter

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has embarked on a working tour of 17 Brigade Area of Responsibility in a deliberate effort to access and reinvigorate ongoing counter-terrorism counter-insurgency operations in North West Nigeria.

The COAS, who arrived at the Headquarters 17 Brigade in Katsina with a team of principal staff officers from the Army Headquarters on Friday 6 September 2024, immediately received a brief on the security situation and operational disposition of the Brigade by the Commander, Brigadier General Babatunde Omopariola.

Addressing the troops, the COAS stated that in pursuit of his Command Philosophy to provide efficient leadership, sound administration, and operational effectiveness, the Nigerian Army (NA)has initiated several welfare schemes to shore up the morale of troops by progressively improving the living standard and condition of personnel and their families.

He clarified that the attainment of these goals have been tenaciously pursued by commencing the payment of the backlog of Group Life Assurance scheme that had accumulated since 2017, as well as the Personnel Accident Insurance Scheme to NA beneficiaries.

Gen Lagbaja also pointed out that the NA has introduced the Affordable Housing Options for all Soldiers (AHOOAS) post service Housing scheme to provide highly subsidized post service residential accommodation for personnel alongside ongoing massive rehabilitation of medical facilities, Barracks and infrastructure across NA formations and units in the country.

He added that the NA has initiated COAS Loan Schemes to economically empower personnel and their families. These he maintained are aside provision of several combat enablers to troops to enhance operations against the terrorists. He charged the troops to rise up to the security challenges in the region and go after the insurgents in their hideouts.

Gen Lagbaja also took time out to visit sick soldiers and their families at the 17 Brigade Medical Centre, where he gave immediate directive for installation of some essential medical equipment in the center. He later laid a wreath in honour of troops who paid the supreme price in the fight against terrorists and bandits at the 17 Brigade Headquarters Cenotaph.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Katsina State Dr Dikko Umar Radda has stated that security has progressively improved in the state with the return of farmers to their farmlands.

The Governor made this known when he received the COAS in the Katsina state Government house during a courtesy cum condolence visit to the Governor. The Governor noted further that the state has witnessed a reduction in the menace and farmers are returning to their farms.

He attributed the development to the synergy and joint effort of all the security agencies. Governor Dikko appealed to the communities not to relent in supporting the troops with credible information, stressing that without the cooperation of the communities, the ongoing operations will not succeed.

The COAS had earlier in his remarks pointed out that he was on an assessment tour of ongoing operations, state of infrastructure and Civil-Military Cooperation activities in the Brigade.

He expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Katsina state for their support to the NA and particularly to troops of 17 Brigade. The COAS equally paid a courtesy call on His Royal Highness Alhaji Dr Abdulmumuni Kabir Usman, Emir of Katsina, where he acknowledged the critical role of the traditional institution in mobilizing the people to support the troops in order to completely stamp out security threats and challenges.

Also in Katsina, the COAS has described the passing of Hajiya Dada Yar Adua as a loss of one of the legendary and virtous matriarchs of the Nigerian Army family.

Gen Lagbaja made this known when he paid a condolence visit to the Chairman Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulazeez Yar Adua and other members of the bereaved family during his working tour of 17 Brigade.

The Army Chief noted that officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army share in the grief and pains of the Yar Aduas as a family that gave two illustrous sons to the Nigerian Army.

He prayed for God to grant the family and the people of Katsina the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

COAS EMBARKS ON WORKING TOUR OF 17 BRIGADE, CHARGES TROOPS TO UP OPERATIONAL TEMPO, CONDOLES THE YAR’ ADUAS, KATSINA GOVERNMENT

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Troops repel ISWAP attack, rescue civilians in Borno

Published

on

Troops repel ISWAP attack, rescue civilians in Borno

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have repelled a coordinated attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram terrorists on Kukawa town in Borno State.

The Nigerian Army said the terrorists attempted to infiltrate several communities using civilians as human shields, but troops of 19 Brigade engaged them in a fierce battle.

A vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) deployed by the terrorists was destroyed by a T-55 tank, while a suicide bomber was neutralised and several others fled in disarray.

In a related development, 11 family members of ISWAP fighters, including four women and seven children, surrendered to troops at Mayanti and Tango 16 in Bama Local Government Area.

Also, troops of 24 Task Force Brigade on patrol along the Dikwa–Ajiri Road discovered and safely detonated three IEDs, while Sector 3 troops arrested five suspects in Monguno town during a cordon-and-search operation.

Troops repel ISWAP attack, rescue civilians in Borno

Continue Reading

News

Borno: Swiss Government to support Borno Model on Post-Conflict Recovery

Published

on

Borno: Swiss Government to support Borno Model on Post-Conflict Recovery

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Monday, received the new Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Patrick Egloff, at the Government House in Maiduguri.

During the meeting, Governor Zulum expressed gratitude to the government of Switzerland for its humanitarian support, particularly the aid provided during the 2024 devastating floods that affected Maiduguri and the surrounding local governments.

He, however, emphasised the need to scale up funding and collaboration in key areas, specifically the importance of supporting victims of Boko Haram insurgency in rebuilding their livelihoods and mediation efforts.

“On behalf of the government and people of Borno State, I wish to extend our appreciation to the Swiss government for its intervention through the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund for emergencies in the North East and the 2024 flood disaster,” Governor Zulum stated.

He added, “We look forward to working with you to see how funding can be increased in some critical areas, especially in supporting victims of Boko Haram insurgency, and how we might collaborate in the field of mediation.”

Governor Zulum informed the Ambassador that the insurgency has been reduced by 90%, with more than 300,000 insurgents and their families having surrendered over the past four years.

“Borno State is now largely peaceful. Notwithstanding the intermittent attacks in some areas, most resettled communities have been able to cultivate their farmlands and their means of livelihood have significantly improved,” he said.

The Governor detailed the success of the locally developed ‘Borno Model’, which focuses on the demobilisation, deradicalisation, and reintegration of repentant insurgents. He requested Switzerland’s support in implementing the model to ensure its continued success.

In his remarks, Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Egloff, noted that Borno was the first state he had visited since assuming his post.

He commended Governor Zulum’s leadership qualities, describing it as citizen-focused and inspiring. “The leadership you provide is extremely important. Your style of governance, with its proximity to the citizens, is very much in line with European models,” Mr Egloff said.

Ambassador Egloff described Borno Model as a good initiative which his country will be willing to support.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development, Partnership, and Humanitarian Support, Dr Mairo Mandara, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement, Engineer Ali Goni, while the Ambassador was accompanied by the Senior Programme Officer at the Swiss Embassy, Aline Burki, and Senior Programme Advisor, Ahmed Abdullahi.

Borno: Swiss Government to support Borno Model on Post-Conflict Recovery

Continue Reading

News

Outbreak of Malnutrition: EU Offers Support to Nigeria

Published

on

Outbreak of Malnutrition: EU Offers Support to Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

The European Union Parliament has decried the perennial malnutrition crisis in Northern Nigeria, promising to stand by Nigeria in addressing the issue.

The promised was made in Wednesday evening by EU parliamentarians who paid a three-day visit to Nigeria.

The leader of a six-member delegation, David MacAllister during a press conference to round up their visit, also urged the three tiers of government to urgently face the health crisis.

MacAllister said: “At the same time, ladies and gentlemen, we are deeply concerned and deeply saddened by the malnutrition crisis, in particular in north-east and north-west Nigeria.

“The European Union stands with Nigeria and the affected populations, mainly children, with the humanitarian support of nearly €50 million this year.

“But a financial commitment from Nigeria’s federal and state governments is also urgently needed to face the crisis. Thousands of children are unemployed.”

He promised that the EU will follow up the situation. “We will certainly follow up in particular on those matters and in particular on the unfolding humanitarian crisis in north-western Nigeria,” added.

He pointed out that Nigeria matters to the EU being the most populous country on the continent and one of its major economies.

He added: “So we do hope that Nigeria can also contribute to play a leading role to strengthen the EU-EU relationship, in particular on the occasion of the EU-EU summit to be held in Angola at the end of November.

“When it comes to your great country, Nigeria, we in the European Union consider Nigeria a strategic partner.”

MacAllister said his stay in Nigeria has brought him closer to unravel some of the 5,000 puzzles about the country.

He quoted an English saying: “Well, I described Nigeria to me as a puzzle of 5,000 pieces, and we have certainly set the frame in the last 48 hours, and every conversation, every briefing, every meeting we had makes me add further pieces together. And what I have always realised is the good English saying, “what is seen is better than a hundred times read”.

He said this applies to Nigeria, adding “We have started to understand better, and our main message will be that we need to be in continued engagement with the European Parliament, not only with the largest country in Africa, but also with democracy.

“Nigeria may not be a perfect democracy. Indeed, in the actual governance, you know that yourself, but this country is a democracy, and that’s why we highly respected our colleagues we met today from the different political parties, and we’re very honoured to not only be received by the President of the Senate, but also by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.”

On the European Union-African Union summit holding in Angola next month, MacAllister said “European Parliament has adopted a resolution, a particular resolution last week in Strasbourg, where the draft version, which was finally adopted between the political groups after three days of negotiations with a broad majority, kind of underlines the European Parliament’s expectation towards this summit.”

He also added: “We would like to see concrete results. We want to foster trade between Europe and Africa. We want to make our development cooperation as effective as possible, and we strongly, in the European Parliament, across party lines, believe that the future of Europe and the future of Africa are so closely linked to each other.

“Your success and the success of Africa will also be our success in Europe and vice versa.

Also speaking, the Head of EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot said EU’s interest is to have a prosperous Nigeria.

Explaining why the EU has been magnanimous to Nigeria albeit ECOWAS, Mignot said “Of course we are doing this also because it is in our interest. Our interest is to have a prosperous, stable and democratic West Africa and in particular the main country in West Africa and in the African continent and Nigeria.

“And also, of course, we need Nigeria to partner with us to defend our common values that we are sharing, defence of natural resources in particular, on the world scene. And we need Nigeria also to make business. We need Nigeria to manage, to gather migration flows. “This is what we are doing. So we have common interests and of course this is what our partnership is based on. Nigeria matters, Nigeria matters to the European Union and our message returning to Europe, returning to Brussels will be that we believe it is time for the European Union to engage more with and in Nigeria.”

On the issue of malnutrition, the envoy said EU teams are in contact with partners who are operating different states like Katsina and Sokoto for instance, in particular in the North-West of the country.

He added: “And they ‘ve been recently on the field, so what we see is that there are still many, many families coming, mothers with babies, with children in states of severe acute malnutrition and these children are in danger of dying and some of them have died. I’ve seen myself a few weeks ago when I went to Katsina and there are also many families that do not reach these centres because they don’t know of their existence or they are just too far away to reach them. So there is really a necessity to make sure that there is no breakup in the chain of supply of the therapeutic food, which is absolutely indispensable and this requires additional funding from international donors or from national donors.

“We have seen how some state governments, Katsina for instance, have become more aware of the necessity of addressing the situation, but we need real efforts from all sides to inform the reaction to this crisis.

“So it’s very important to mobilise the necessary funds to address this situation.”

Then on the question on cooperation between the European Union and ECOWAS, he said :Our cooperation is rooted in shared values such as mutual integration, good governance and economic growth. The partnership has evolved to cover a wide range of areas including security, trade, migration and institutional capacity building. I want to underline that the European Union has supported ECOWAS through financial aid, technical assistance and political dialogue, particularly in conflict prevention, counter-terrorism and also intellectual processes.

“The EU provides support to ECOWAS regional peace, security and stability mandate to build and maintain peace, security and stability in the region to ensure conditions of development.”

Outbreak of Malnutrition: EU Offers Support to Nigeria

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights