The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya has urged communities in Borno State to sustain their support to the Nigerian Army in the ongoing Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency war efforts in the North Eastern part of the Country.
The COAS stated this at the official commissioning and hand over ceremony of water Projects in Lassa and Dille communities in Askira/Uba LGA of the State on Saturday 27 Aug 22.
The projects were executed by Maj Gen MG Ali, the Commandant Nigerian Army School of Infantry, as part of the COAS Special Civil-Military Cooperation Intervention Project.
The project comprises 5 x Industrial Boreholes, 2 x 60,000 litres Overhead Tanks and Reticulation of 9.5km Pipe Borne Water.
In his address at the event, the COAS, who was ably represented by the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (Army), Maj Gen Markus Kangye said, "ln line with the COAS Vision of "A Professional Nigerian Army Ready to Accomplish Assigned Missions Within a Joint Environment in Defence of Nigeria", the Nigerian Army shall continue to pay close attention to the Non-Kinetic aspects of its operations.
He added that, Senior Officers of the Nigerian Army will continue to be connected to their various communities in order to enhance Civil-Military Cooperation as well as winning the hearts and minds of the civil populace.
The COAS urged the good people of the Borno State, especially Lassa and Dille communities to continue to support the Nigerian Army in surmounting the challenge of insecurity in the country.
Earlier in his welcome address, Maj Gen MG Ali thanked the COAS for his benevolence and finding his community worthy if benefitting from the Special CIMIC Cooperation Intervention Project.
He stressed that lack of pipe borne water had been a major challenge and with the intervention of the COAS, lack of pipe borne water would be a thing of the past in the 2 communities.
He enjoined the good people of Lassa and Dille communities to ensure that the water project was adequately maintained and that reticulation pipes were not vandalised.
DIgnitaries that graced the occasion include; the General Officer Commanding 7 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Sector 1 Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI Maj Gen W Shaibu, Commanders of affiliated formations and units within 7 Division Area of Responsibility as well as some Heads of other securityagencies in the State.
Also in attendance were His Royal Highness the Emir of Uba, Hakimi Lassa as well as other traditional rulers from the LGA. The commissioning and handover over ceremony was conducted hitch-free.
- Brig Gen SK Usman (Rtd)