Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya has reiterated his resolve and commitment in addressing infrastructural development, as well as ensuring the welfare of Nigerian Army (NA) personnel.
The COAS stated this during the commissioning ceremony of remodeled Army Headquarters (AHQ) Annex A Complex, situated at Asokoro, Abuja.
Gen Yahaya emphasized, that the successful completion of the project was propelled by deliberate efforts toward the realization of conducive working conditions for personnel, in order to enhance administrative and operational efficiency.This, he noted, is in consonance with his vision to have “a Professional Nigerian Army, Ready to Accomplish Assigned Missions within a Joint Environment in Defence of Nigeria”.
He added that the complex, which will accommodate three departments and an independent directorate, will decongest the main AHQ complex and provide a working environment favourable to officers and soldiers.
The COAS further disclosed that the edifice will provide office accommodation for the Departments of Army Transformation and Innovation, Civil Military Affairs, Special Services and Programmes, as well as Nigerian Army Finance Corporation. He stressed that the NA will continue to seek ways and means of improving the welfare of its personnel under his watch. The Army Chief expressed profound gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for his untiring support to the NA in actualizing infrastructural development.
The COAS later commissioned the newly constructed AHQ Regimental Sergeant Major’s (RSM) official residence in Shehu Musa Yar’adua Barracks, Abuja.It will be recalled that since assumption of office, the COAS has embarked on the drive to improve the functionality and restore the lost glory of the office of the RSM across NA formations and units, by empowering them with brand new Hilux vehicles and newly constructed official residences. These serve as veritable incentives to motivate and enhance the productivity of the RSMs, as custodians of regimentation and discipline in the NA.
In attendance at the events were Principal Staff Officers from Defence and Services Headquarters, Commanders and Commandants from NA training institutions, Directors, and senior officers both serving and retired.
