President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime has built a club for soldiers to relax and have fun.

Specifically, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, on Wednesday harped on maintenance of the facility in army barracks and cantonments to encourage provision of more facilities.

Mr Yahaya gave the advice at the Ekehuan Barracks, while inaugurating the remodelled soldier’s club, as well as five blocks of seven flats for officers and soldiers in the cantonment. According to him, maintenance is essential to what is put there.

He noted that it was in the overall effort of the Nigerian Army under his watch to improve the welfare and personal wellbeing of the personnel.

“Administration is one of the key pillars of my command’s philosophy, and now it includes good accomodation and living quarters for the personnel,” explained Mr Yahaya. “That is what you have seen us do. All of us in the army are taking the drive everywhere to improve on the wellbeing of the personnel.”

The army chief added that this also included the research and development training seminar which commenced in the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (NASEME), Auchi on Tuesday.

Mr Yahaya further noted that the overall operational effectiveness of the troops encompassed all the army’s efforts, including terms of operations, training and welfare.

“In all I commend President Muhammadu Buhari for all his support to the army and also providing the resources and wherewithal for us to do this,” stated Mr Yahaya. “We also appeal to the troops to reciprocate this in their conduct, discipline, and operational effectiveness. We are seeing the results already. We appreciate and commend them, while we continue to provide even more.”

The army chief advised that standard procedure in tandem with current happenings be adopted in the maintenance of the inaugurated facility.

“At intervals, the command should have a system of checking the condition of the facilities inaugurated today,” he told the soldiers.

Maj.-Gen. Gold Chibuisi, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, said the troops of the 4 Brigade had continued to sustain peace in Edo.

Mr Chibuisi also mentioned that they were mainly quartered at the Ekehuan Barracks and using the newly inaugurated facilities for accomodation and recreation would serve as a morale booster.

He commended the brigade commander, Brig.-Gen. Sani Abdullahi and his team, for the projects and the army chief for his intervention in prioritising the welfare of personnel. Mr Chibuisi pledged that the facilities would be properly used.

(NAN)