By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Toareed Lagbaja has charged troops to go after oil thieves and wipe them out completely.
The COAS stated this during his maiden visit to the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt.
A statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General, Onyema Nwachukwu, quoted the COAS as saying that the “main focus of the Federal Government is economic recovery, security and infrastructural development.”
The COAS said the nation cannot experience meaningful economic recovery without having a firm grip of the oil industry.
According to him, troops are critical to securing the nation’s oil industry.
He further charged them to be loyal, disciplined and committed to their constitutional responsibilities.
“Your loyalty, first is to the Constitution and Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ” he asserted.
He used the platform to admonish troops not to violate the codes of conduct guiding the execution of their operations to ensure the safety and security of the society.
He emphasized, that he wants to continually receive positive feedback about troops of 6 Division throughout the period of Exercise STILL WATERS III.
During the visit, General Lagbaja commissioned landmark projects, as well as critical operational platforms needed to rejig amphibious operations in the Niger Delta region.
He stated that the set of 10 Gunboats procured is the first wave, as efforts are ongoing to acquire more platforms that will improve the operational capability of the NA in the riverine domain.
The COAS later visited 6 Division Step Up Headquarters at Ahoada, where he stressed the importance of inter agency collaboration.
“We brought you here together with the personnel of other security agencies, so that you can work together in a multi agency environment, essentially to consolidate on existing interagency cooperation. You must work together, you must work as comrades” he averred.
Earlier at Ahoada, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam appreciated the COAS for the strategic, moral and financial support to the Division.
He clarified, that Exercise STILL WATERS III will provide an opportunity for Commanders and Operatives, to carry out effective operational planning, logistics preparation and conduct of Military Operations Other than War (MOOW), as well as tactical amphibious operations.
He added, that it will also focus on the conduct of civil-military activities geared towards winning the hearts and minds of the local populace.
Highlight of the visit was the flag off of Exercise STILL WATERS III in Rivers State, courtesy call on the Governor of Rivers State, Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, commissioning of several projects, including 10 Gunboats, remodelled 6 Division Headquarters Complex reception, twin Regimental Sergeant Majors quarters, Ordnance tailoring factory, remodelled Corpers’ Lodge and new office complex to accommodate the Headquarters 26 Support Engineer Regiment amongst others.
