By Suleiman Shehu
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has urged Nigerians to continue to be law abiding as they approach the Saturday Governorship and Houses of Assembly elections.
Yahaya made the plea on Tuesday while inaugurating a 60-bed Ward building at the General Hospital, Kishi in Oyo State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ultra-modern Hospital Ward furnished and equipped with medical equipment was donated to Kishi Community as part of the Nigerian Army Civil-Military Cooperation project.
The COAS, however, commended Nigerians for the peaceful conduct of the Feb. 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
He urged them to continue to provide useful information to the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in order to adequately tackle the nation’s security challenges.
Yahaya said that Nigeria, under his watch, would continue to pursue both kinetic and non-kinetic operations in order to improve on the security situation across the country.
The COAS further said that effective cooperation between Nigerians and the security agencies would help in overcoming the challenges facing the country.
Commenting on the hospital project, the COAS said the project was facilitated by an indigene of Kishi, Maj.-Gen. Adekunle Adesope, who is the Chief of Defence, Account and Budget.
According to him, this is to further strengthen the Nigerian Army relationship with the beneficiary communities.
He said that the Nigeria Army has carried out several of those projects across the country.
Yahaya said that the project had, overtime, contributed in helping to curtain the mirage of security challenges in the country, particularly through non-kinetic approach.
“The COAS special intervention project was introduced to support the serving senior Nigerian Army officers in the rank of Major General to carry out project in their communities.
“The project is to provide succour to hardship of the community and I approve the Civil-Military project.
“It is heartwarming that we are here in Kishi to inaugurate this project in honour of Maj-Gen. Adekunle Adesope.
“Nigerian Army, under my watch, will continue to pursue both kinetic and non-kinetic operations in order to improve on the security situation across the country,” he said.
Yahaya commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the support given to the Army and pledged the loyalty of the army to the President and Nigeria Constitution.
In his remarks, Adesope appreciated the COAS for approving the project and thanked God for sparing his life to witness completion and inauguration of the project.
He said history had been made with the inauguration of the project in Kishi, adding that the project was in honour of his late wife, Taiwo Kunle- Adesope.
Adesope said that the hospital would enable the community to have access to quality healthcare service delivery.
Present at the occasion were Maj.-Gen. Muhammed Usman, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division Nigerian Army; the Iba of Kishi, Oba Moshood Oyekola; Onigbowo of Igbowo, Oba Rasheed Anikulapo; the Chairman of Irepo Local Government area, Lateef Adediran and Justice Ladiran Akintola, among others. ( NAN)
