By Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, has ordered field commanders across various theatres of operations, including the gallant troops, to remain committed to bringing the nation’s adversaries to their knees and restore sanity in troubled areas across the country.
Gen. Lagbaja gave this order on Tuesday, while declaring open the 2024 Chief of Army Staff First Quarter Conference, holding at the Army Headquarters Command Officers’ Mess 1 Asokoro Abuja.
He said that Nigerian Army must continue to strengthen its operational capabilities, enhance intelligence gathering, foster inter-agency cooperation and prioritise the welfare of personnel.
The COAS also noted that the Nigerian Army under his leadership has commenced the implementation of Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOOAS), aimed at alleviating the hardship they face in securing personal accommodation for post-service life.
General Lagbaja said: “As a way of improving troops’ welfare, new welfare initiatives are being implemented. The Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOOAS), aimed at alleviating the hardship soldiers face in securing personal accommodation for post-service life, is one such measure. As a way of making the scheme inclusive and showing our sensitivity to the plight of soldiers with operational related disabilities, I have directed the Managing Director of Post-Service Housing Development Limited (PHDL) to set aside 5 percent of the AHOOAS Scheme in each estate for allocation to this category of soldiers. Additionally, the Nigerian Army will cover all the housing expenses at 100 per cent for the soldiers.
“Relatedly, the Nigerian Army has reinvigorated its complimentary welfare flights for North-East troops to facilitate seamless travels during leaves and passes. Furthermore, premiums paid to beneficiaries of our various insurance schemes to cater to troops’ dependents in any eventuality have been doubled without any corresponding increase in contributions. These all underscore our unrelenting commitment to prioritizing the welfare of our soldiers and their families to get the best out of them and appreciate their service”.
As part of the welfare packages for soldiers of Nigerian Army, the COAS also presented new Toyota Hilux Van to no fewer than thirteen Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSM), at the sideline of the conference.
He noted that troops commitment to professionalism, discipline, and respect for human rights must remain firm and obvious to all.
He encouraged participants to engage in robust discussions and provide insightful opinions and options that will finetune the strategies and policies of the Nigerian Army to guarantee a more robust and secure Nigeria.
“Your wealth of knowledge and experience will undoubtedly contribute to our collective effort to transform the Nigerian Army to advance our nation’s security agenda. I am quite optimistic that the briefs and presentations during the Conference will elicit robust discussions and generate strategies to maintain the Nigerian Army’s continued success in operations,” he further stated.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army) Major Gen. AB Ibrahim, said that the COAS quarterly conference present a platform where the leadership of the Nigerian Army comes together to review its past achievements, assess current challenges, and plan for the future, within the broader context of national security.
The COAS conference, he added, also provide a platform for regular consultations with field commanders for a comprehensive review of their activities in each quarter of the year.
While noting that the this First Quarter Conference will help leadership of the service reshape the future of Nigerian Army, General Ibrahim, said that the conference also provide a platform for honest discussion and insightful conversation.
