By Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja on Thursday commission Special Intervention Civil- Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Projects in Jen Community of Karim Lamido Local Government, Taraba State.
Lt. Gen Lagbaja disclosed that, the idea was to provide support where communities of the Nigeria army officers who’s through dedication to duty and offer service for the country and risen to the rank of major general to enhance the quality of life of Nigeria citizens.
He stated this during the combined commissioning of the intervention projects christened, Major General Boniface Robert Sinjen Sports and Cultural Centre and Major General Henry Tafida Wesley Multipurpose Centrer respectively.
Commissioning the projects, Gen Lagbaja lauded the remarkable contributions and dedication to service of Major Generals Boniface Sinjen and Henry Wesley, two sons of the Jen Community, who executed the projects as a way of giving back to their Community.
“I’m here today to celebrate two senior officers of the Nigeria army, Major Generals Boniface Sinjen and Henry Wesley, and I thank Governor Agbu kefas for not only coming to identify with his primary constituency, but also coming with the high power delegations from the state.
“The two Senior Officers in Nigeria Army, we are here to Honour you today, because you have made a remarkable achievements in the Nigeria Army through your over three decades of discipline, diligence and dedicated service within and outside the shoars of our beloved country.
“Your years of unblemish services both locally and internationally admiration and it is the recognition of their contributions that we have gathered here today, to commission a couple of a Chief of Army Staff, Special Intervention Civil-Military Cooperation Projects.
“Nigeria army sees the people of Nigeria as critical partner in progress. These consciousness is a crucial factor in sustaining the yearning of the Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Civil-Military Cooperation Projects under our Civil-Military Cooperation line of efforts.
“Our projects are always conceptualized and executed to compliment the government efforts in providing top-notch basic amenities and infrastructures for the people of Nigeria.
“Nigeria Army is not out to compete with any level of Government, Political or Socio-cultural entity and also the idea of our projects is not to give any undue political advantage to our senior officers but rather to compliment the government of the day and communities efforts at enhancing the quality of life of our people”, he said.
The Army Chief while appreciating the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continuous support, urged the benefiting communities to safeguard the projects for the purpose they are meant for.
In his address, the Chief of Operations, Major General Boniface Sinjen stated that the project was part of the COAS Special Intervention Civil- Military Cooperation Project, approved and funded by the COAS to give succour to communities in need.
He said that the acts of benevolence over the years, have helped galvanize the needed support from citizens, as force multipliers for troops combating insecurity in troubled parts of the country.
He noted, that the center is expected to nurture and cultivate athletes, empowering them to represent Jen community at both the state and at the national level.
In his remarks, Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas lauded the chief of army staff’s initiative, stressed that the projects would go a long way to cement Military and Civil relationship.
“These products are the initiative of the Chief of Army Staff to add value to the community and to carryout special responsibility in order to encourage military and civilians relationship in combating insecurity in our country.
“I want to use this opportunity and thank Chief of Army Staff for the confidence he reposed on our sons in Taraba, last year most of our sons benefited from the last promotion, one major general was promoted in recognition and the love the Chief of Army Staff has for us in Taraba.
“I want to assure the people of Karim-Lamido that my administration will give special attention to Karim-Lamido local government, before my next campaign, I believe that the road from Jalingo to Karim-Lamido would have been finished- he said.
Our correspondent reports that, the two projects, sponsored by the office of the COAS, are a Sports and Cultural Center, as well as a Multi-Purpose Center.
The Sports and Cultural Centre named after Major General Boniface Robert Sinjen, has standard Basketball and Volleyball Court, Football pitch, with two pavilions of 500 seating capacity, as well as Museum and Conference hall, offices and Major General Henry Tafida Wesley Multipurpose Centrer.