Civil-Military Cooperation: Army boss commissions 1.4 Km road in Kebbi

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya on Tuesday, commissioned a newly constructed 1.4 Km road in Kaoje Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi State, as part of his special intervention Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) projects.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Gen Yahaya disclosed that the civil-military cooperation scheme was initiated to provide support to communities of serving senior Nigerian Army (NA) officers across the nation, who through dedication to duty and service to the nation have risen to the enviable rank of Major General in the Nigerian Army. The projects, he stated, are intended to complement basic services, amenities and infrastructure to bring succour to benefitting communities. He noted that some of the projects executed so far include, the construction and rehabilitation of hospitals, schools and community centres, the sinking of boreholes to provide portable water and the construction of access roads, among others.

The Army Chief further remarked that the project was executed in honour of Maj Gen Nasiru Usman Muktar, stressing that the construction of the road was solely conceived by the executor and the people of Kaoje, after a thorough needs assessment. The COAS used the opportunity to appeal to the traditional institution to galvanise support for the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in the fight against threats to national security.

Equally speaking at the event, the Secretary to Kebbi State Government, Babale Umar Yauri, who represented the State Governor, described the project as one that will greatly impact on the socio-economic well-being of Kaoje people, adding that the road will provide access to agricultural produce from rural communities, aside other economic activities.

Earlier, the Sarkin Bargu Kaoje, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Mustapha Usman Adamu Kaoje, while receiving the COAS in his palace, revealed that the newly constructed road is the busiest in Kaoje and will positively turn around the economic fortune of the community. The royal father expressed appreciation for the choice of his community to execute the project.

Senior officers who joined the COAS at the commissioning were the Commander Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Maj Gen Stevenson Olabanji, the Chief of Operations (Army) Maj Gen Olufemi Akinjobi, General Officer Commanding 8 Division, Maj Gen Uwem Bassey, Provost Marshal (Army) Maj Gen Robert Aiyenigba, Chief of Military Intelligence (Army) Maj Gen Ibrahim Salihu and the Commander Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, Maj Gen Abubakar Adam