Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has inaugurated the newly constructed Quarter Guard and remodelled the 22 Armoured Brigade headquarters at Sobi in Ilorin, the state capital.
According to the army, the projects, which were executed by the Nigerian Army, align with the philosophy of the Chief of Army Staff Command to sustain a culture of maintenance.
The governor also unveiled three new vehicles and ten motorcycles, which the state government donated to enhance the command’s operational capacity.
“We are here today to commission the Quarter Guard and other facilities of the Nigerian Army. One thing is clear: any money that the Federal Government appropriates through the National Assembly trickles down to the Army. And this event serves as a proof,” the governor said at the brief commissioning ceremony.
“It is not just about buying weapons; it is also about putting infrastructure in place for the military to do their work correctly.
“We want to thank the Nigerian Army, especially here in Kwara, for helping us to keep the peace. They are doing their best to ensure we sleep every night, ” the governor said.
In attendance were the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Maj. Gen. Obinna Onubogu; Commander 22 Armoured Brigade, Maj. Gen. Oluwafemi Williams, Provost of the Nigerian Army College of Education (NACOE), and Major General Umar Nasir Babangida are among the top officers.
In his remarks, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Maj. Gen. Obinna Onubogu hailed the governor for his various support, which he noted continues to strengthen the command’s capacity to maintain peace in the state.
“For Kwara State, we must thank God for the peace within the state. Of course, there are areas of concern, but we have managed that. This is partly because of the support that we get from His Excellency the Governor of the state, who has spared no effort to ensure that the troops of the Nigerian Army within the state continue to carry out their operations,” he said.
“As you can see, we just commissioned the 22 Brigade Quarter Guard and the three vehicles donated by the state government. His Excellency has also approved the purchase of 10 motorcycles, which we also commissioned today.
“All these will go into our operations within Kwara State. So when you talk of the security and the peace we enjoy in the state, it is because we have this kind of support. We are grateful to His Excellency,” he stated.
Earlier, the Commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Maj. Gen. Oluwafemi Williams, said he remodelled the Brigade Complex to give it a befitting outlook and a conducive working environment for the officers and soldiers in the HQ, in line with the philosophy of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
“This project couldn’t have been possible without the logistic support of the COAS, Lt Gen Olufemi Oluyede (NAM).
“Also, I must thank His Excellency, the Governor of Kwara State, for his interventions that ensured the completion of the project,” he said.
