By Steve Oko

UMUAHIA – Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Toured Lagbaja, Friday, inaugurated several projects at Ekeoba-Oriendu Autonomous Community, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, to promote civil-military relationship in the state.

This is as he said that the Nigerian Army would continue to use both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to combat insecurity ravaging the country.

The projects including a cottage hospital, a multi-purpose hall, a water borehole, and a 500KVA electricity transformer, were attracted by the Director General, of Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Major Gen. Obinna Ajunwa, a native of the Community.

In a remark, the COAS said civil-military cooperation projects were meant to enhance civil-military relationships.

He restated the readiness of the Nigerian Army to continue to promote cordial relationships between the military and the civilian population.

Lt. Gen. Lagbaja said the Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Civil-Military Cooperation Projects were instituted “in a bid to provide support to communities of Nigerian Army senior officers who, through dedication to duty and service to the Nation, have risen to the enviable rank of Major General.”

He explained that the projects “are always carefully conceptualized and executed in consultation with the benefiting communities, and they are designed to complement the states by providing top-notch basic amenities and infrastructure for the people.”

The COAS, however, added that the idea was not to give any undue political advantage to our senior officers but rather to complement the government and communities’ efforts at enhancing the quality of life of our people.

” I must mention that the Nigerian Army is not out to compete with any level of government, political or socio-cultural entity.

“Our projects are thus, a way of appreciating communities of benefiting senior officers for giving the nation their very best to serve in the Nigerian Army and encouraging them to continue supporting our operations and other endeavours.”

The COAS described Gen. Ajunwa as “one of Nigerian Army’s finest, and distinguished senior military diplomats, with over three decades of service to his fatherland which has seen him deployed on various assignments within and outside the shores of Nigeria.”

“His years of unblemished, disciplined, diligent, and dedicated service have earned him several local and international recognitions”, he added.

On the war against insecurity he said:” I wish to reiterate that under my leadership, the Nigerian Army will continue to pursue both kinetic and non-kinetic lines of operations in collaboration with other security agencies and well-meaning citizens to improve the security situation across the country.

“The relationship between the people and the army must be collaborative; this is because the people need the Army, and the Army cannot make the desired impact without the people. The Nigerian Army is ever ready to support the government and the people to achieve the desired environment for economic prosperity and national security”.

He urged the benefiting communities to help protect the facilities.

Speaking at the event, Gov. Alex Otti thanked the Nigerian Army for the gesture which he said would complement the social and infrastructural development efforts of the Government.

Otti who was represented by his Deputy, Engineer Ikechukwu Emetu, said the gesture was evidence of cordial relationship between the Army and the state.

The Governor who said the State Government would continue to partner with the Army and other security agencies, commended the Nigerian Army for its efforts in securing the state.

He noted that the Army is meant to be only concerned with external security but the peculiar security situation in the country had made their engagement in internal security imperative.

Otti expressed delight over the significant improvement in security across Abia State and commended the Army and other security agencies for their resilience.

” Socio-commercial activities have increased in Abia because of the improved security surveillance in the state since we launched Operation Crush last year”, Otti declared, adding that investors are now coming to the state.

The Governor urged the people to assist in safeguarding the facilities to avoid vandalism.

Speaking also, Senator Austin Akobundu representing Abia Central, commended the COAS for the intervention, saying the projects would help improve the lives of the people in the community.

He said: ” Health is key especially in a rural community like this. This hospital will help alleviate health challenges of the people. I’m very elated about this intervention”

Senator Akobundu described Lt. Gen. Lagbaj as an exceptional military officer.

” The COAS is a very good officer, and Nigeria needs somebody like him at this time”, he added.

He said Gen Lagbaja had raised the bar and elevated the standard of service in the Army, adding that the Senate is pleased with the operational standards set by the COAS and other service chiefs.

Senate Akobundu (a retired Colonel), also commended Gen. Ajunwa for helping to improve the quality of life in his community.

In his remarks, the Chief of Civil Military Military Affairs, Major Gen. NC Ugbo, said the projects were part of the Nigerian Army’s non-kinetic drive towards addressing the multi-faceted security challenges bedevilling the country.

He noted that the Army had continued to impact positively on various communities through civil-military cooperation projects.

Major Gen. Ugbo explained that the Chief of Army Special Civil-Military Cooperation Projects were designed to cement the existing cordial relationship between the Army and the civilian population.

He said that the projects would help to address some critical needs of the people in the benefiting communities and help support socio-economic developments.

Major Gen. Ugbo expressed hope that the projects would enhance the general livelihood and well-being of the affected communities.

He thanked the COAS for his continued support to the Department of Civil-Military Affairs which coordinates the non-kinetic operations of the Army across the country.

He, therefore, urged the benefiting communities to help maintain and protect the facilities for durability.

Speaking also, the member representing Ikwuano Umuahia federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon Obi Aguocha, commended Gen. Ajunwa for attracting the projects.

He also thanked the Nigerian Army for the initiative, and solicited more interventions.

The traditional ruler of the Community, HRH Eze Philp Ajomuiwe, expressed joy over the interventionist projects which he said would help to improve on the lives of his subjects.

He thanked the Nigerian Army for the intervention, describing Gen. Ajunwa as an illustrious son of the community.

The monarch said Gen. Ajunwa had greatly impacted on lives of the people and prayed God to bless and keep him

In his brief remarks, Gen. Ajunwa thanked the COAS for encouraging senior officers to come up with quick-impact projects that would help touch lives in their communities.

He also lauded the COAS for approving funds for the projects, saying that the Army is not only about shooting but also shows care for the people’s needs.

The event was graced by top military officers including the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division Enugu, Major Gen. Hassan Dada; Commander 14 Brigade Ohafia Brig. Gen. Diya; among other top military brass from the Nigeria Army headquarters.

Former COAS Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika; Security Adviser to the Governor, Commander Macdonald Ubah (retd); and a host of serving and retired military officers attended the ceremony.