…As Army inaugurates multi-purpose dam, water treatment plant in 3 Div.***
The Military High Command on Tuesday warned officers and soldiers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria against mutiny, reminding them of their oath of allegiance to be totally loyal to the civil authority and protect the constitution.
The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, gave the warning in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
Enenche said that the warning was in response to a statement credited to the National Chairman of National Democratic Party (NDP), Chidi Chukwuanyi, calling for the Ghanaian experience under Rawlings in Nigeria.
According to him, while the Defence Headquarters does not wish to join issues in anyway, it is instructive to observe that this unguarded utterance targeted at the Nigerian Military is inciting.
“What Chidi Chukwuanyi is calling for is a combination of unpopular acts of insurrection and mutiny, which cannot be taken for granted by the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“Consequently, I am directed by the High Command of the Nigerian Military to let the general public know and remind personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria that all officers and men of the Nigerian Military swore to an oath of allegiance.
“This translates to unalloyed loyalty to the President, Commander-in-Chief and full subordination to the civil authorities of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“That all officers and men of the Armed Forces of Nigeria are to continue to abide by the constitutional provision, in Section 217 sub section 2 (c) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended,
“To suppress insurrection and act in aid of civil authorities to restore order.
“Any act to the contrary is unconstitutional.
“That all officers and men of the Nigerian Military are further reminded of offences contained in Armed Forces Act CAP A 20, The laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, which include among others; Mutiny in Sections 52 and 53, which if committed are punishable.
“I am further directed to state clearly and unequivocally that the Nigerian Military is a force that is in consonance with all global best practices and cannot be misguided by any individual or group.
“And for the avoidance of doubt, the Armed Forces of Nigeria is totally loyal to the President, Commander-in-Chief and fully subordinated to the civil authorities of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
In another development, the Nigerian Army on Tuesday inaugurated a multi-purpose dam and integrated water treatment plant at it’s 3 Division, Rukuba, near Jos.
Speaking at the event, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), said the project was timely and would address the perennial water challenges being faced within the division.
Buratai was represented by Maj.-Gen. Enobong Udoh, the Chief of Training and Operations, Nigerian Army.
He said the dam and the treatment plant would go a long way to ease the hardships experienced by the army personnel and their families.
The COAS added that the project would also empower families of the soldiers economically and enhance food production through irrigation farming
“I was worried when the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of this division informed me of the hardships our personnel is passing through due to lack of clean water.
“I am aware of the previous efforts by both the Plateau Government and past service chiefs to address the problem.
“I was delighted when the GOC later intimated me about the presence of a collapsed dam within the cantonment and affirmed that it could be revitalised to address the problem of water shortage.
“As you are aware, the welfare of troops is dear to my heart, and this project we are inaugurating today is a step to further demonstrate our commitment.
“I am delighted that the multi-purpose dam is fully completed today; indeed, it gladens my heart to see the joy and happiness this brings to my troops,” he said.
Buratai, further said he was delighted by the skills and craftsmanship exhibited by the team of army engineers who handled the design, supervised the construction and ensured its speedy completion.
“Our team of engineers who handled and supervised this project have demonstrated competence, dexterity and high level of ingenuity.
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“This dam will empower our families economically and improve food security in Plateau and Nigeria in general,” he added.
In an address of welcome, the GOC, Maj.-Gen. Nuhu Angbazo, thanked the COAS for providing funds for the project aimed at alleviating the suffering of personnel and their families.
Angbazo explained that the scarcity of water within the division had lingered since it’s inception four decades ago, hence the necessity of the dam and the treatment plant.
According to the GOC, the dam has the capacity to hold 540, 000 cubic litres of water, while the plant could treat one million litres of water per day.
He added that the dam would enable the division to also provide potable water to Jebbu Bassa and Dutsen Kura, its host communities, as part of its Cooperate Social Responsibility (CSR).
“This cantonment has been in existence for over four decades and it has experienced a perennial problem of lack of potable water supply.
“Troops and their families resorted to the digging of wells, sinking of boreholes as well as walking long distances to fetch water from streams.
“This inauguration today will reduce the hardships being faced by personnel and their families.
“As part of civil-military relationship, we will also provide water from the dam for our host communties,” he said.
Angbazo explained that aside making clean water available, the dam would also be used for irrigation, fish farming and recreational activities.
He also said that it would provide a veritable tool as a body of water for training in watermanship and river cross combat swimming for its personnel.
Inaugurating the project, Gov. Simon Lalong commended the army for the giant strides, saying that the project had met one basic need of mankind – clean water – for the army personnel and adjoining communties.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Danladi Atu, the governor thanked the Nigerian army for supporting government to cushion the hardships faced by the people.
He also thanked the army for supporting the state government’s efforts in combatting insecurity and urged the officers and men to do more to restore total peace to all parts of the state.
He pledged government’s continued support to the army to ensure the security of the state and the country at large.
