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NOA pledges support for WAI at annual camping event

By Editor
17 September 2015   |   2:42 am
THE Lagos Chapter of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has promised to come up with platforms through which War Against Indiscipline (WAI) Brigade also known as Community Support Brigade (CSB) will be financially and materially encouraged for voluntarily serving their fatherland.
WAI-CAMPING

Lagos State Commander, War Against Indiscipline (WAI), Comrade Adeoye O. Gabriel (left); Deputy Director Programmes, National Orientation Agency (NOA) Raphael Bowoto, His Royal Highness Eze Dr Cyril Mosuala Anomeze, and security practitioner, Richard Okenna during the 2015 Lagos State Camp of WAI in Lagos

THE Lagos Chapter of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has promised to come up with platforms through which War Against Indiscipline (WAI) Brigade also known as Community Support Brigade (CSB) will be financially and materially encouraged for voluntarily serving their fatherland.

This was made known by the Deputy Director Programmes, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Raphael Bowoto, at the 2015 Annual Camping Programme of the WAI Brigade recently in Lagos.

Bowoto, who represented his boss, the Lagos State Director, NOA, Comrade Ishola Waheed, explained that WAI is not supposed to be placed on salary because it is a voluntary organization, but plans are being made to make them benefactors of certain benefits in order to further encourage them.

His words: “WAI is not supposed to be placed on salary because it is a voluntary organization, but that is not to say they cannot be encouraged. As a matter of fact, members of WAI are supposed to be workers, so that they are not tempted to get involved in corrupt practices. Some of them here are very senior civil servants and top officers in private sectors, but that is not to say they don’t need encouragement. We shall involve appropriate platforms to encourage them for their services to their fatherland which they carry out voluntarily with love and patriotism.”

He reiterated that NOA has been in support of the Brigade by providing them with an office for operation at NOA secretariat, and other financial and material supports.

He further advised the youths: “The task before you is enormous. The role of WAI Brigade is very critical to national development. If we are not disciplined, we can’t make headway. We have the responsibility to do so. NOA has the responsibility to orientate Nigeria and that is why the Parliamentary Act 64 of 2007 allows NOA to have National Orientation Corp which you are part of.”

The Royal father of the day, HRH Eze Dr Cyril Anomeze, confessed that he loved WAI Brigade because it promotes law and order. He stated that the purpose of the camping activities was to train both new offices, based on the directives of the government in order to know the officers on ground for nation building.

His words: “President Buhari formed WAI Brigade in 1984 and now that he is back, he wants to fortify it so that while he is fighting corruption, discipline will be fought alongside through WAI Brigade”.

The Lagos State Commander, WAI Brigade, Senior Comrade Gabriel Adeoye, stated that the essence of the annual camping was to make the officers leave their homes to a neutral ground to train and equip themselves for the task ahead in readiness to serve their community.

He continued by pointing out that in as much as we had police, and other military officers in the society, the role of WAI is to fill in the gap wherein police couldn’t cover up.

He cited few examples of how they partnered UNICEF during the fight against Ebola spread, and how they embarked on “Operation Know Your Neighbour Campaign” when the news made round that Boko Haram was in Lagos.

During the 2015 camping event, few officers were promoted and decorated as an appreciation for job well done or general support to the Brigade. Amongst them were HRH Eze Cyril Anomeze as Executive Chief Camp Mayor; Dr Phil Osagie as Chief Camp Mayor; Comrade Joseph Adeboyejo who was superintendent to Chief Superintendent; Tejuosho Kehinde from former deputy superintendent as a new superintendent of Ikorodu Command, among others.

The guest speaker and Security/Safety Consultant, Mr Richard Okenna, advised WAI Brigade to ensure that they are disciplined if they must enforce laws against corruption and indiscipline with compliance. According to him, he has seen the vision in the organization, and urged the federal government to approve the group to become salary earners.

War Against Indiscipline (WAI) Brigade is the only indigenous voluntary, para-military uniformed organization in Nigeria.

PHOTO CAPTION: Lagos State Commander, Senior Comrade Gabriel Adeoye (left); Deputy Director Programmes, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Raphael Bowoto; Royal Father Of The Day, HRH Cyril Mosuala Anomeze and Security/Safety Practitioner, Mr Richard Okenna During The 2015 Lagos State Camp Of WAI.

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