From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Thursday received commendation from the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai and the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd), for his commitment towards ensuring security of lives and property of Kano and the neighbouring states.
The duo thumbed up Ganduje during the Ground-Breakkng Ceremony to lay foundation for construction of Nigerian Army Training Centre at Falgore Forest in Doguwa Local Government Area of Kano state.
The Minister of Defence commended Ganduje for establishing the Training Centre within 1000 Square Kilometre forest, pointing out that such move will seriously tackle the menace of terrorists, bandits, armed rubbers and cattle rustlers who hitherto had used the forest as their hideouts.
According to him, the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is pleased with Ganduje for the initiative which will ho along way in helping the Federal Government overcome the problem of insecurity and insurgency.
The Chief of Army Staff who was represented by Lt. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, also hailed Ganduje for his huge investment in security.
According to him, “I wish to most respectfully acknowledge the contribution of the Executive Governor of Kano state, His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to security, peace and stability in Kano state.
“I am also glad to note that, indeed, Kano state is one of the most peaceful states today in Nigeria. To further maintain this feat and take it to greater heights, His Excellency has actualized an earlier promise to allocate a training area and build training facility for the Nigerian Army in Falgore Forest.”
Buratai described the facility as the Nigeria. Army Training Area Falgore (NATAF).
In his remarks, Ganduje stated that the first phase of the facility will cost N500 million.
He explained that the construction of the facility in the 1000 square kilometer forest is not by accident but by adequate consultation and planning by the state government in order to dislodge the activities of criminals, bandits and terrorists.
According to him, “this occasion for the laying of the foundation for the construction of facilities for military training here in Falgore forest is not by accident but by divine and by adequate consultation and planning by Kano state government.”
He noted further that the N500 million facility made up of administrative blocks, dormitory, cafeteria and other buildings was constructed as phase one of the project while the contract for the construction of an access road to the facility has since been awarded under the state ministry of works.
“I contacted the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari and briefed him of my intention to provide some facility for the Sambisa Forest and he consented to that. He directed me to see the Chief of Army Staff and brief him of my intention.
“I was with the army and they agreed that they would collaborate with us in order to get some facility for the military here.
“We are spending N500m for the phase one of this project and I have just directed that an access road should be constructed by the government, the commissioner of works has been directed to design and award the contract for the construction of the road to this facility,” he added.
The Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamiala who was represented by the Leader of the House, Hon. Alhasssn Ado Doguwa pledged the House’s commitment to consolidate and support the fight against security threat in the country.
He disclosed that already there is a bill for the establishment of Armed Forces Support Fund at House and assured a speedy passage and swift transmission to the executive.
The Speaker who expressed worry over what he described as envelop funding of security, noted, that the new bill was designed to fortify the military operations of easily accessing funds.
Lamenting the threat of battling with cattle rustlers, kidnapping and other criminal act being unleashed through the notorious Falgore’s forest, he said the new military training formation will bring succour to the people of his constituency who bear the burden.
He said establishment of the military training formation will ease our sleepless night and weak civil security guide. Let me pledged thst we are full to support of the minister of defense and military commitment to establish Army battalion at Tudun wada dankade, which is the administrative headquarters of our constituency, to further fortify and entrench peace and security of our area and Kano at large.
He said with the new formations, Doguwa Tudunwada and Kano will continue to maintain and sustain its rightful place as the food basket of Kano and neighboring Kaduna, Katsina, Jos and Niger Republic.
He further stated that, “our commitment to collaborate with president Buhari to consolidate effort on the security architecture of the country is undoubted. Part of the support is the House of representatives commitment to expeditiously passing a bill on the Armed Forces Support Fund.
“There is no gain saying the country is at war with the insurgency and the country cannot continued to fight the same war with same system, especially with the same envelop method of funding. That is why we have decided to initiate more efficient and effective mean of funding the military which will believed will make significant different in the fight against the insurgent.
“Let me say that with the commitment of the generality of members and reformatory agenda of speaker, I can assure speedy passage of the bill. We would pass the bill for patriotic and commitment to safe the lives and property of ordinary Nigerians who are victims of insurgency and we believe the president will not hesitate to assent to the bill when eventually passaged by the House.”
