The Nigerian Army has donated an industrial water borehole to address the problem of portable water facing the Ohodo community in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area (LGA) in Enugu State.

Inaugurating the borehole on Saturday, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, said that the project was a high-impact project meant to give back to the society.

Represented by Maj.-Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, the COAS said that the project was in honour of Maj.-Gen. Patrick Eze (retired), former commandant of Nigerian Army Ordnance School.

He said the COAS special intervention civil-military-cooperation projects are meant to support retired army senior officers’ communities, and appreciate their communities for their illustrious son’s sacrificial service to the army and the nation.

“The idea of Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Civil-Military-Cooperation Projects was conceived as part of efforts to support the communities of Nigerian Army senior officers, who through years of service and dedication attain the rank of Major General.

“The concept of the COAS Special Intervention Projects is to give back to the people as essential partners in progress and we have over 200 projects scattered all over the country done with consultation with the communities.

“The top notch basic amenities are provided to complement rural development efforts of the state government and communities as they serve to bring solutions to pressing needs, ameliorate hardship and enhance the people’s quality of life,” the COAS said.

Earlier, the chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Maj.-Gen. Gold Chibuisi, said that the industrial water borehole was meant to provide clean drinking and domestic water for the people of Ohodo community.

Mr Chibuisi described Mr Eze as a professional officer with an indelible and enviable service record to the nation spanning over three decades as well as being instrumental to successes recorded during his service.

“This project was executed by Maj.-Gen. P.I. Eze (retired) has a 30 KVA sound-proof generator, electricity supply, solar-powered security lighting, solar-powered digitalised security surveillance cameras, overhead tankers and multiple dispensers among others ,” he said.

In his remarks, Mr Eze commended the COAS for approving and funding the project and using him to bring the solution to the long time challenge of lack of potable water to his community, and making his people happy.

He noted that the problem of water was so bad in the community that during the dry season, the community always buys 1,000 litres of tanker water for N50,000.

The traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Hycient Eze, thanked the COAS and the GOC for the high-impact project and assured full community protection for the facility.

“We appreciate the Nigerian Army coming to bring a solution to the age long challenge of our community, as we bear great financial burden to get water,” the traditional ruler said.

An indigene, Nicholas Agbo, also thanked the army for the historic intervention.

Highpoints of the event were the handing over of the facility to the community’s traditional ruler and presentation of gift items to some widows in the community by the wife of Maj.-Gen. Eze, Regina Eze.

(NAN)