As part of the activities marking 2016 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL), the Chief of Army Staff (CAOS) on Saturday in Abuja flagged off cleaning of the environment saying “it was key to National Development.”
The exercise which took place along Keffi-Abuja road in Nyanya, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was attended by senior military officers and other Para-military organisations.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, said Nigerian Army would sustain its partnership with communities close to its formations in cleaning the environment across the country.
Expressing happiness with the turnout, the army boss said such joint regular environmental sanitation would assist at boosting the army’s relations with the public.
The army chief said it would mobilise logistics and men at specified time to support the cleaning of the environment.
“Environment is very important to our wellbeing, and if we want to live healthy lives, we must keep our environment clean. This is something that we do regularly across the country as part of our civil military relations and our contribution to a healthy environment’’, he said.
The Sarkin Pada of Nyanya, Chief Enoch Jiaba, expressed gratitude to the military for restoring the pride of Nyanya. He stated that since the bombings that occurred in the area, Nyanya was seen as a place associated with terror and criminals.
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Also speaking, the Chairman of Nyanya Market Traders Association, Mr Ahmed Sadique said the development has demonstrated that the army is a partner in progress.
Similarly, Soldiers in Maiduguri also trooped out to engage in cleaning the street in commemoration of NADCEL 2016.
However, the 81 Division, Nigerian Army on Sunday had its NADCEL 2016 Interdenominational Church Service at the Saint Charles Lwanga Military Catholic Church, Nigerian Army at the Ikeja cantonment, Lagos.
Annually, church and mosque services are customary part of the activities to mark the celebrations and it usually takes place in all Nigerian army formations across the country.