The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has urged Nigerian troops to redouble their efforts in the discharge of their duties irrespective of the” challenging environment”.
Lagbaja made the appeal on Thursday while addressing the troops during his operational maiden visit to Headquarters 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala Barracks, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
He stressed that the government has the interest of the soldiers at heart and assured the troops of the army headquarters’ commitment to addressing some of their challenges.
“The army is being transformed and this transformation process has the backing of the president and the government of the day.
“The renovation you see that’s ongoing within your barracks is because the government has provided the funds to carry that out.
“The issue of Group Life Assurance that has been a nightmare and we had a backlog of 6,400 families between 2012 and 2022 is being addressed as I speak with you currently. We have so many other issues that are being addressed.
“So, the government has your interest at heart and the wise saying has it that ‘to whom much is given much is expected.’ I want to encourage you to redouble your efforts by showing gratitude for the great investment of taxpayer’s money.
He disclosed that some of the challenges faced by the troops are the dilapidated state of accommodation, medical centre, non-existence of soldiers’ club and electricity.
“We have collated all these and relevant departments at the army’s headquarters will act on them,” he added.