By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
Chief of Army Staff,COAS,Lt. Gen Taoreed Lagbaja has said that 1,700 Army personnel have so far benefited from his Empowerment Loan Scheme across the country.
Lagbaja who stated this during the combined second and third quarters Chief of Army Staff Conference 2024 in Uyo on Tuesday explained that his administration has continued to fine tune the welfare schemes to benefit personnel and their families in the country.
“The Chief of Army Staff Personnel Empowerment Loan Scheme, launched during the First Quarter Conference in April and it is already a huge success as over 1,700 beneficiaries have been serviced with a waiting list of about 3,000 personnel.” Lagbaja said.
The COAS said the objective of the loan schemes was to shield personnel from the high interest rates charged by banks and other financial institutions.
He said that concerted operations of the Army has helped to reduce militancy, pipeline vandalism, crude oil thefts and illegal oil refining in the Niger Delta Region even as operations in the various theatres of war have continued to degrade the country’s adversaries with telling consequences on the terrorists and other criminal groups.
“We have not spared any effort to take the fight to their enclaves wherever they exist.”Lagbaja said.
He said that Nigerian Army and other security agencies operating under the auspices of the Joint Task Force (South South) Operation DELTA SAFE had redoubled their efforts to boost Nigeria’s daily crude production.
The Army he said also acquired other combat enablers, such as Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles, rifles, and ammunition to strengthen operations across the country.
“These acquisitions will undoubtedly enhance the effectiveness of our troops across the various theaters and will help firm up the nation’s path to a security environment that will enable economic prosperity.” The COAS said.
He said that Nigerian Army and its Sister services have continued to enjoy immense support from the government at both the national and sub-national levels, urging well-meaning Nigerians to “continue supporting our troops deployed across the Federation.We look forward to enhanced collaboration and assistance in making our beloved country.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for his unflinching support and strategic guidance to the Nigerian Army and Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom for consistently supporting efforts to combat criminal activities in the state.
In an address, Governor Umo Eno reiterated his commitment to providing assistance to the Nigerian Army adding that his development blueprint, the ARISE Agenda, accorded priority to security.
“As a matter of fact, the ‘S’ in the ARISE Agenda stands for ‘Security Management.’ This shows our commitment to maintaining security and part of the first acts I performed shortly after my inauguration was to set up a full-fledged Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways, headed by one of your own—General Koko Essien (Rtd.).
“We have also created the Ibom Community Watch (ICW), a community-based security outfit that serves to complement the activities of the security agencies with intelligence and physical presence, deploying their deep knowledge of their localities.”Eno said.
The Governor further noted that, “the government created the Joint Maritime Operations/Task Force, procured and deployed 14 patrol boats in response to the littoral nature of our State and the threats posed by sea pirates, militants, and kidnappers within the waterways and have also donated Hilux trucks to assist the Police in real-time response to combat crimes.
He commended the Army for its immense effort at addressing the current security challenges bedeviling the country and urged its officers and men to remain apolitical and operate within the ambit of the law.
Eno also appreciated the Chief of Army Staff for the collaborative operations and for choosing to host the conference in Akwa Ibom and commended the army for the establishment of Headquarters of 2 Brigade in the State.
