By Harriet Tornguvan -Abuja
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has restated the Nigerian Army’s commitment to supporting civil authorities in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities, as efforts to strengthen internal security and manpower development continue across the country.
Lieutenant General Shaibu gave the assurance while receiving the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, during a courtesy visit to the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
The Army chief commended the Ebonyi State Government for its sustained cooperation with the Nigerian Army, noting that the newly established Nigerian Army Depot in the state would enhance manpower training, capacity building and overall operational effectiveness.
He disclosed that the passing-out parade for recruits trained at the depot would take place in Abakaliki, underscoring Ebonyi’s growing strategic importance to the Army.
The COAS urged the governor to sustain public sensitisation efforts and encourage citizens to support security agencies with timely and credible intelligence, stressing that community cooperation remains critical to addressing security challenges nationwide.
He also called on Ebonyi youths to take advantage of enlistment opportunities in the Nigerian Army, adding that increased participation would further strengthen national security. Shaibu appealed for similar advocacy among other governors in the South East to boost regional representation in military service.
In his remarks, Governor Nwifuru congratulated the COAS on his appointment and praised the Nigerian Army for its continued support for internal security operations in Ebonyi State.
He described the establishment of the Army depot as a strategic intervention that has improved security and strengthened operational readiness in the state.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to collaboration with the Army, noting that Ebonyi has remained free from incidents of kidnapping and “sit-at-home” disruptions. He attributed the prevailing peace and stability to the proactive and professional conduct of Nigerian Army personnel.
Governor Nwifuru also appealed for the completion of the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Abakaliki, saying the facility would serve Ebonyi and neighbouring states in the South East and South South regions.
He pledged his government’s readiness to deepen partnership with the Nigerian Army in the interest of sustained peace, security and development.
