By Olayemi Esan
The Chief of Army Staff(COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya today Thursday, 17th February, 2022 commissioned remodeled Nigerian Army Headquarters Annex A Office Complex at WU Bassey Barracks Asokoro Abuja and Army Headquarters RSM Accomodation at Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Barracks in Abuja.
The commissioning of the remodeled Army Headquarters Annex A Complex and RSM Accomodation buildings according to General Yahaya, is part of his welfare agenda for the Army personnel and RSMs, aimed at restoring the prestige of the office.
In his remark, General Yahaya said, the successful completion of this project is a huge step towards the realization of Government's commitment to improving the the Federal working conditions of the members of the Armed Forces.
"Indeed, the completion of this project would be in line with the actualization of my vision which is to have "A Professional Nigerian Army Ready to Accomplish Assigned Missions within a Joint Environment in the Defence of Nigeria"he said.
Army Chief noted that, the Department of Army Transformation and Innovation which occupied the previous structure is saddled with the responsibility of engendering the Transformation and Innovation efforts of the Nigerian Army. To achieve this, it interfaces with various establishments and institutions on behalf of the Nigerian Army.
General Yahaya pointed out that, also joining Army Headquarters Department of Transformation and Innovation in this complex are Department of Civil Military Affairs which has the duty to project the image of the Nigerian Army positively through the execution of quick impact projects, civil military cooperation programmes and interfacing with the civil society as well as the newly established Department Special Services and Programmes which would be responsible for initiating, monitoring, supervising and implementing all Nigerian Army special services and programmes in conjunction with relevant AHQ departments and directorates.
He added that, Nigerian Army Finance Cooperation would also operate from this complex and they are tasked as the supervisory body of some Nigerian Army business entities with the task of coordinating and consolidating all internally generated revenue among others. Thus, occupying a new structure such as this would provide the departments the conducive environment to actualize their mandate and the transformational agenda of the Nigerian Army at large.
He commended the vision of the former Chiefs of Transformation and Innovation (Army) that conceived the idea of building this complex and for their steadfastness to seeing to its completion.
General Yahaya urged all our gallant men and women especially those in the front lines not to relent in their efforts and sacrifices in ensuring a safe country by defeating all criminal networks and groups.
He assured personnel that, Nigerian Army under his watch will continually seeks ways to better the welfare of personnel, provision of adequate infrastructure is at the forefront of our agenda and no efforts would be spared in actualizing the goals.
Earlier while briefing COAS and dignitaries at the epoch occasion, the Chief of Logistics, Major General Omotomilola Akintade revealed that, the remodelling Annex A Complex has 75 Offices, 2 mini Auditorium, one equipped big library, 50 Convinients and Well furnished Internet facilities, among others.
General Akintade said, the Complex would accommodate 3 AHQ departments aswell as directorate and therefore not only decongest the main AHQ complex but also provide a conducive working environment for officers and men of the departments which would be accommodated therein.
He said, the remodelling of the office complex was proposed in March 2020 but later reconstruction started in Ocotober 2020.
In addition, The Chief of Army Staff(COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya also commissioned newly completed official residence of the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) Nigerian Army Headquarters at Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Barracks, Asokoro, Abuja.
Speaking during the commissioning, General Yahaya averred that RSMs are very vital in the management of soldiers and play the crucial role of inculcating discipline, as well as promoting ethos, traditions and doctrinal values of the Nigerian Army, amongst personnel in formations and units.
He acknowledged that service discipline and experiential knowledge imbibed from RSMs by soldiers, build the foundation of trust and confidence, which enhance stability of formations and units across the Nigerian Army.
The COAS maintained, that commissioning of the buildings is part of his welfare agenda for the RSMs, aimed at restoring the prestige of the office. He later handed over keys of the building to Army Warrant Officer(AWO) the RSM of Nigerian Army Headquarters.
It will be recalled, that since assumption of office, the COAS has through his Command policies and administration, been boosting Army Officers and troops’ at warfront morale and reinvigorating their fighting will, with the prompt implementation of welfare policies and dispensation of welfare packages.