Nation
New COAS Assumes Duty, Visits CDS
The newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Maj-Gen Faruk Yahaya, yesterday, assumed office at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
Yahaya, who was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, last Thursday, becomes the 22nd Chief of Army Staff.
Earlier, Yahaya had visited the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor at Defence Headquarters where the CDS congratulated him and presented to him, the Army Flag.
After the initial welcome ceremonies at Army Headquarters of lowering the former flag of his predecessor and hoisting the new flag, the New Army Chief addressed senior officers of the Nigerian Army at the conference room of Army Headquarters in a closed-door session that lasted about 10 minutes.
Before the closed-door session, he directed all senior officers present to observe one minute silence for his predecessor Lt-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in a plane crash on May 21, 2021.
During his visit to Defence Headquarters, the CDS wished Yahaya a successful tenure in office as the 22nd Chief of Army Staff.
Irabor further urged the new COAS to build on the legacy of his predecessor, particularly in the fight against insurgency and banditry.
The COAS was accompanied on the visit by the Chief of Policy and Plans Headquarters, Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen Benjamin Ahanotu.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, last Thursday, appointed Maj-Gen Yahaya as the new Army Chief.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Defence, Maj-Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd), has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the well-thought out strategic appointment of Maj-Gen Farouk Yahaya as the 22nd Chief of Army Staff as a replacement for the late Lt-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in a plane crash alongside 10 others, penultimate Friday in Kaduna.
Magashi said by the appointment of Yahaya, Buhari has expediently put national interest above ethnic and religious chauvinism by fulfilling all requirements necessary.
These include his unblemished track records of service, professional, command and operational competencies, among other yardsticks, that culminated into his emergence as the most suitably qualified new Army boss.
Magashi described the new Army Chief as an organic infantry General who is tested and trusted to actualise the national aspirations to restore peace in the dark spots areas of insurgency, kidnapping and banditry as well as other allied threats to the nation’s corporate existence.
The minister expressed optimism in the professional pedigree of the former theatre Commander, Operation “Hadin Kai” Yahaya in sustaining the trajectory of taking offensive and aggressive campaigns to the camps, corridors and cells of the adversaries with a view to obliterating them.
He said as a battle commander with remarkable exploits and considerable experience, exposure and expertise he will be committed to the new battle plans and philosophy of Jointness among services and other security agencies in combat which are some of the legacies of his predecessor.
While pledging the support of the Ministry of Defence under his watch to the new Army boss in carrying out his mandate, the minister said plans are in the pipeline by the Federal Government to immortalise late Attahiru, and others, who died in the plane crash.
This, according to him, was aimed at immortalising them and to ensure that their sacrifices as national heroes in keeping the nation safe and secured are not in vain.
Rivers state Deputy Governor Professor Ngozi Nma Odu has commended “The Port Harcourt City One Love,”a Port Harcourt based humanitarian orgnisation For it’s commitment towards alleviating the sufferings of the poor and vulnerable in the society.
Professor Ngozi Nma Odu said this while speaking at this year’s edition of “operation feed the needy” a yearly outreach program of “The Port Harcourt City One Love ” in Port Harcourt.
The Deputy Governor said by feeding more than sixty thousands hungry people within the past six years, the Port Harcourt City One Love Movement has distinguished itself as a club that cares for the less privilege in the society.
She commended the , organization for listing eleven thousand persons to be fed in the current exercise.
Meanwhile The Port Harcourt City One Love has planned a permanent solution to the problem of feeding the poor in the state.
The leader of the group Mr Idaere Gogo Ogan who said this in an interview with newsmen during the distribution of food items to the poor and vulnerables in Port Harcourt said the organization is planning a permanent food kitchen where poor and vulnerable persons can work in anytime and get fed.
Idaere Gogo Ogan said more than sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons across Port Harcourt City and environs have been fed since the inception of “The operation feed the needy” program six years ago,adding that so far sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons have beneffited.
He described the group as a platform to promote friendship, brotherhood, community development empathy and feeding the less privilege and hungry people
“That’s what we are doing today here,so we started the exercise six years ago”.he said.
Ogan said the effort was a private sector driven initiative but added “it also involves people in Government because the platform does not recognize any division,we bring everybody together in unity , friendship and brotherhood”he said.
He said the effort will go along way in alleviating hunger especially following the prevailing hunger in the country.
According to him “you know the country is very tough, people are hungry people are starving, there is a whole lot of economic hardship,so for us, this is just our own way of reaching out, our own social contribution to what is very difficult”he said.
Over eleven thousand persons were fed in the just concluded exercise.
Areas of coverage include, Isaac Boro park, Port Harcourt prison/Macoba, Borokiri/Enugu waterside Bundu areas Waterlines and others.
Some of the beneficiaries including an 80 years old widow commended the movement for the annual programm and urged other organizations to emulate them
John Bibor,/Esuuk Oyet/Suotor Memoye /Jeremiah Hannah
Nation
We’ll Partner Private Sector to Industrialize Rivers State – Fubara …Hints Revitalization of Ahoada, Trans Amadi Industrial layout
“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively. Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.
“This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs”, Edun said.
Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo said access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs.
-
Featured1 day agoWASSCE: RSG Distributes Science Materials To Secondary Schools
-
News1 day ago
Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Lives More Important Than Foreign Investment – Oshiomhole
-
Rivers1 day ago
MBA Forex Trial Adjourn To June 3, Amid Bereavement … As Court Declines Cost Application
-
News1 day ago
ActionAid Demands Probe Of Govs Using Public Funds For Campaign
-
Aviation1 day ago
Passengers Stranded As Delta Airline From Atlanta Route Back Eight Hours After
-
Business1 day ago
Customs Impound N2.35bn Cocaine, 15 Trailers of Rice
-
Politics1 day ago
2027: Bayelsa Senator Gets Critical Endorsement For Second Term
-
Politics1 day agoINEC Sets Rivers South-East Senatorial By-Election For June 20