The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Burutai, has said the Army is spreading its tentacles to have firm grips of all parts of the country to enable it deal with rising security challenges in conjunction with other security agencies.
The army has been at the forefront of containing menaces of Boko Haram, herdsmen attacks, militancy and other security challenges threatening the unity and peaceful co-existence of the country.
The COAS spoke at the groundbreaking of the Nigerian Army Barracks, Camp Buratai at Elebele in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Buratai explained that following the challenges, President Muhammadu Buhari desired a balanced and widespread footprints of the Nigerian Army to confront the threats in partnership with sister security agencies.
He said the 6th Division and 6th Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State were part of the expansionist project.
He said the 16th Brigade in Yenagoa, was also made operational on February 28, 2018 adding that he was in Katsina 10 days ago to operationalise the 17th Brigade under the new 8th Division with headquarters in Operation Lafia Dole in Monguno.
But he said the headquarters in Monguno would be relocated to Sokoto as soon as the menace of insurgency had been fully contained.
The groundbreaking which will lead to construction of massive infrastructures, was attended by the Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson and his key cabinet members as well as the Founder/President, Belema Oil Producing Ltd, Mr. Jack-Rich Pein (Jnr) and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Azikel Refinery, Dr. Azibapu Erani.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6th Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. M.S. Yusuf; Commander 16th Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Kelvin Aligbe and other security commanders; traditional rulers and host communities attended the ceremony.
Buratai said: “The establishment of 6th Brigade in Port Harcourt, 6th Division in Port Harcourt and the 16th Brigade in Yenagoa forms an important part of Mr. President’s desire to have a balanced and widespread footprints of the Nigerian Army to deal with the myriads of security challenges facing the country in conjunction with other security agencies.
“As you may be aware, I was in Katsina about 10 days ago to operationalise the 17th Brigade under the new 8 Division whose headquarters is currently in Operation Lafia Dole, the theatre of operation specifically in Monguno but will soon relocate to Sokoto after the menace of the insurgency has been fully contained.
“Our current national security realities have compelled the armed forces and other government security agencies to act together in operations in many parts of the country to stem the tides of criminalities and other untoward behaviour that hurts us as a nation.
“To achieve this, we leaders and instruments of fate must, therefore, put in place necessary measures to look after the wellbeing of officers of soldiers saddled with the responsibility of keeping Nigeria safe”.
He said the groundbreaking of the barracks in Yenagoa marked the commencement of construction activities planned for the 16th Brigade.
The COAS said the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari placed premium on the welfare of soldiers fighting to keep the country safe.
“It is for this reason that the government continue to provide decent living and working environment for troops, their families and dependents while they are away in far-flung and isolated locations at the mercies of adverse weather conditions and sometimes enemies of the state.
“Thus this barracks that we are about to commence its construction underscores the importance the government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari places on troops’ welfare”, he said.
He said the groundbreaking was made possible following Governor Seriake Dickson’s fulfillment of his promise to allocate and approve the parcel of land acquired by the Army.
He said: “The Army has acquired the property and today Dickson has kept his promise. From what we have observed, of the preparation of this new site, so much efforts and resources have been efficiently deployed. Today’s ceremony is a testimony that with determination and sincerity of officers and soldiers, we can build institutions and regenerate society.
“The brigade has demonstrated and achieved so much in infrastructural development and enhancement of troops’ wellbeing within one year of its establishment as well as meeting its trainings, operational and regimental responsibility.
“I commend the commander, officers and men of the 16th Brigade for their innovation, determination and professionalism as well as the clear interpretation of my vision for the Nigerian Army which is to have a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles”.
He also commended the GOC, 16th Brigade for providing the guidance and galvanizing resources to keep the Niger Delta region safe and peaceful in collaboration with other stakeholders in each state.
He further thanked the founder of the Belema Oil for donating a block of 30 mini flats for the accommodation of soldiers’ families.
“The project will go a long way in addressing part of the immediate accommodation needs for the brigade.
“From the headquarters we shall continue to look the way of this brigade to ensure it is set up properly given the very difficult nature of the terrain in this part of the country.
“The construction parity of the brigade has been noted and will receive deserve attention immediately the 2018 Budget is passed with cash backing for implementation”, he said.
While receiving Buratai in Government House, Dickson commended him for the establishment of 16 Brigade as well as the collaborative efforts of the Nigerian Engineering Corps at the Agge Deep Sea port, which he noted, would enhance security and investments.
“I am pleased with what the Nigerian Army is doing in terms of security in the state and its development efforts at the Agge Deep sea port, which we are building to enhance our economic and tourist potentials.
“Going forward, we will like to work with the Nigerian Army to undertake the building of low cost houses, bridges and other developmental projects”, he said.
He also said his government’s heavy investments in education had helped to drastically reduce militancy and insecurity in Bayelsa State.
He said: “We fight insecurity in vain if we don’t first educate our people, particularly our youths to be empowered enough to reason beyond their nose, to properly know and situate the evil of crime, criminality and insecurity in the society.
Also, Aligbe in his opening remarks thanked the COAS for supporting the activities of the brigade adding that the last one year of the brigade witnessed the beginning of the construction of Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Agge Deep Seaport site.
He said the past year also witnessed the construction of the 16th Field Engineer Regiment Base at Toru-Orua and the establishment of a command secondary school at Bedebiri.
He said: “More resources will be invested in future by the Federal Government to build this permanent site of the brigade and affiliated units across the state.
“We are determined to justify the huge investment in this fighting formation as a catalyst against ciminality in Bayelsa state and criminality in Niger Delta region”.
