COAS inaugurates special intervention projects in A’Ibom 

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Toareed Lagbaja has inaugurated special intervention projects in Akwa Ibom as part of measures to sustain Nigerian Army Civil-Military cooperation in the country.

Lagbaja inaugurated the projects on Wednesday at the Lutheran Primary School, Nung Udoe, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom.

The projects executed by Maj.-Gen. Solomon Udounwa (rtd), who hailed from the area were part of COAS special intervention projects in honour of retired Army generals in the country. 

“I’m glad to be back again in Akwa Ibom State, this time around to commission another of our Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Civil-Military Cooperation projects executed by Maj.-Gen Solomon Udounwa (rtd), a bonafide son of the soil.

“So far, the Nigerian Army has undertaken close to 300 intervention projects across the six geo-political zones of the country.

“These have significantly contributed to our non-kinetic efforts at containing the multi-faceted security challenges facing our nation.

“I am glad to note that our experiences have been positive and encouraging,” Labgaja said.

The chief of army staff called on the benefiting school and community to take ownership of the projects and protect them from vandalism.

He urged the Akwa Ibom people to continue to support the army and other security agencies by providing information on criminals to tackle insecurity and protect lives and property in the country.

The COAS thanked President Bola Tinubu for his continued strategic guidance and invaluable support to the Nigerian Army.

In his remarks, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, said that the projects represent a milestone in the ongoing efforts to ensure civil-military relations and foster community development in the country.

Musa, who called on all Nigerians to unite to defeat the enemies of the country, noted that it is only when all Nigerians unite against the common enemies, that the country would be able to shame her enemies.

“I want to seize this opportunity to call on all of us that Nigeria is going through trying times and that we must all unite together as one to defeat the enemies of the state.

“There are those who do not wish us well, we must shame them, and the only way we can achieve this is when we work together, as one people, as one nation,” Musa said.

Musa said the Nigerian Army Civil-Military cooperation projects reaffirmed commitment to ensuring peace in the country.

In his remarks, Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom said that the inauguration of the intervention project was in line with the compassionate programmes of his administration.

Eno, who was represented by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Waterways, Maj.-Gen. koko Essien (rtd), said the compassionate programmes of the government have witnessed the construction of model primary schools, health centres and homes for the less privileged in society.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the project executor, Udounwa, who is a former pupil of the primary school thanked COAS for financing the projects.

Udounwa used the occasion to announce the launching of his foundation, the Gen. Solomon Udounwa Foundation, to support indigent students in higher institutions of learning from the community with scholarship awards.

The Paramount Ruler of Ibesikpo Asutan, HRM Edidem Clement Ekpenyong, thanked the project executor for attracting the projects to the community.

Ekpenyong said the project would bring transformative development to the pupils of Lutheran Primary School and Ibesikpo Asutan community.

Our correspondent reports that the high point of the event was the inauguration of two blocks of the classrooms, 145 writing desks, borehole waterworks, a newly constructed perimeter fence and security post, among others.