By CHARLES IWUOHA

Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, has applauded Lt.-Col. Yusuf Salisu, outgoing Commanding Officer (CO) of 103 Battalion, Awkunanaw Enugu, for exemplary leadership and innovation.

Lagbaja gave the commendation on Tuesday while commissioning a 1.5-kilometre road, 60,000 litres and 48,000 litres of water storage capacity tanks, Nigerian Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) group of schools and water treatment plant.

The GOC inspected the functional 500,000 litres Water Capacity Per Day treatment and reticulation plant, which supplies 24 hours water to the barracks community and nearby Garki community.

He supervised the inauguration of the newly built NAOWA Crèche, Play-group and Nursery blocks. All these projects were constructed by the outgoing commanding officer to alleviate hardship of the 103 Battalion, Awkunanaw Barracks community.

According to the GOC, the Nigerian Army places premium on the welfare of its officers and soldiers as well as the host communities where our formations are located.

“This battalion and indeed the Awkunanaw barracks community is luck to have a person resourceful to create something out of nothing like the outgoing Lt.-Col. Salisu.

“Lt.-Col Salisu has demonstrated the standard of a professional officer trained by the Nigerian Army, who always has something to give to better his environment and society.

“He had performed creditably well in putting impactful projects, which have transformed this battalion and its barrack community within a few months of stay.

“The in-coming Commanding Officer has a lot to do since he is coming to a place that has witnessed major transformation,” Maj.-Gen. Lagbaja said.

The event also featured the donation of bags of 50kg bags of rice and gallons of vegetable oil to wives of fallen soldiers of 103 Battalion.