The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has called on Nigerians to support and encourage the military in its commitment to securing the country.
Oluyede made the call yesterday when he hosted frontline troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, to a special Eid-el-Fitr celebration luncheon in Port Harcourt, Rivers State
He noted the sacrifices made by Nigerian soldiers in securing the nation and protecting critical national assets, urging citizens to always remember them and their families, especially in time of celebrations like Eid-el-Fitr.
The COAS averred that the relative peace experienced in parts of the country, with emphasis on the Niger Delta region, is attributable to the doggedness of the troops, who put their lives on the line to protect the citizens and national assets from external forces.
Oluyede, who was represented by the Commander, Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command, Major General Kevin Aligbe, stated that the festive period called for bonding as an indivisible nation.
He said, “This year’s Ramadan, which coincided with the Lenten season, served as a valuable reminder of the importance of unity, mutual respect and peaceful co-existence as a nation.
“Eid-el-Fitr is not just a time of celebration, but a call to strengthen our bonds as one people, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or background.
“Our nation’s stability and security depends on our collective resolve, cooperation and unyielding spirit. As we commemorate this festive occasion, pray for Nigeria’s continued progress, unity and prosperity.”
The COAS encouraged the troops, saying, “Your commitment and dedication to duty during this holy period deserves the highest recognition. While many are celebrating with their families, our troops remained at their duty posts across the various theatres of operations to safeguard our beloved nation with unwavering resolve.”
In his welcome address, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Emekah, commended the troops for their commitment to securing oil installations in the Niger Delta region.
Emekah said, “The luncheon is organised to appreciate the sacrifices of our troops. This is in line with the COAS Command Philosophy, which has sound administration, anchored on welfare as one of its main pillars.
“Today, we are essentially here to say thank you for the good job you are doing for this great nation. Let me also add that it is on record that our operational activities have yielded the desired effect as evident in the surge in oil production quota for a relatively consistent period.”
The GOC, who was represented by the Commander, 6 Division Garrison/Commander Sector 3 Operation Delta Safe, Brigadier General Sani Ahmed, urged the troops to sustain the tempo for the good of the nation.
In his goodwill message, Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, noted the Nigerian Army as a globally respected force, saying that it has continued to evolve in warfare dynamics and operational preparedness despite the myriads of economic and security challenges bedeviling the country.
Ibas, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Ibibia Worika, said, “It is obvious that the current security challenges in the country are dynamic involving the use of both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches which require multi-faceted strategies to tackle effectively,
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