Naval chief Ogalla lights up Niger community

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has inaugurated an electrification project in Shaku community in Lavun Local Council of Niger State.

The community has been in darkness for decades.

The electrification project was executed under the CNS Special Intervention Quick Impact Project Scheme in honour of Rear Admiral Zakariyyah Shaku Muhammad, Chief of Communication and Information Technology, Nigerian Navy.

Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, who was represented by Rear Admiral Mike Gregory Oamen, Chief of Naval Transformation, said the project was aimed at promoting naval-military cooperation and fostering harmonious relations between the navy and the community.

“The projects are targeted at serving Rear Admirals, where we identify critical quick-impact projects that will have maximum impact on the socio-economic development of the people.

“This is a non-kinetic line of operations for the Nigerian Navy to foster relationships with our host communities, where we operate and win their hearts and minds.

“Through this, we can get requisite support from communities in terms of intelligence and other information. We hope it will bring development to the community and its environs,” he said.

In his keynote address, Rear Admiral Zakariyyah Shaku Muhammad, Chief of Communication and Information Technology, Nigerian Navy, expressed happiness over the project, saying that the electrification of Shaku community was a long-held desire of his late father, Alhaji Muhammad Shaku, 30 years ago.

“I thank the CNS for bringing this vision to fruition. The project will open up the community to positive possibilities, and youths will engage in enterprise to keep themselves busy,” he said.

He added that the project would unlock opportunities for enhanced education and digital literacy, as well as economic activities such as vocational and entrepreneurial jobs.

He said the project would also boost security and safety in Shaku community and its environs, urging the community to work together in fostering a culture of maintenance and responsible energy usage.

Earlier, Niger State Governor, Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago, appreciated the CNS for the intervention, adding that the electricity project would boost economic activities in the area.

Bago, who was represented by Brigadier General Mohammed Bello Abdullahi, Commissioner of Homeland Security in Niger State, appealed to members of the community to ensure the maintenance of the project to benefit from it.

The event was attended by Brigadier General Ahmed Bobbo, Commander of the 313 Artillery Brigade Minna, representatives of the Etsu, and senior officers from the Nigerian Navy.