The Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Olufemi Oluyede, has commended officers and men of 16 Brigade of the Nigerian Army over the increase in the nation’s daily crude oil production.
Oluyede gave the commendation at the Brigade headquarters in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on Monday, while on an operational visit to the military formation.
He also commended the Commander 16 Brigade/Commander Sector 2, Joint Task Force South South Operations, Operations Delta Safe , Brig General Olufemi Obolo, for his competence in leadership.
Oluyede also commended the Bayelsa State Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission for their support in providing infrastructure for the brigade.
As part of the visit, he commissioned projects including an annexe building detention facility, a 300KVA electrification project by the Niger Delta Development Commission and a garrison house donated by the Garrison Commander, Lt Col Mohammed Sheriff Kaigama.
The COAS also inspected some ongoing projects by the Bayelsa State Government at the brigade headquarters.
Speaking to journalists, Oluyede said, “Well, I’m actually in Bayelsa on an operational visit. What that entails is seeing my officers and soldiers, see how they’re faring, and to listen to their challenges, and, particularly, to see how I can address those challenges; and that’s what brought me here today.
“And, I can tell you that I’m impressed with what they are doing. It is obvious that the brigade is being driven by a very competent officer who is leading his men very well.
“I’m particularly at this point to commission a project that was constructed by a Lt Col (Kaigama), who is the garrison commander. And, I made it very clear that these are the kind of officers we are looking for in the army – people who add value, who’ll lead by example, who’ll have the right impetus to make the Nigerian Army better.
“And, I can tell you that from what they are doing, it’s obvious that they’re doing well, because from the oil production sum that has been stable for a while, I’m enjoining them to do more so that we can have it go up maybe two million barrels per day so that more revenue will be accruable to the country and that will engender more development for the people of Nigeria.”
On the support of the Bayelsa government and NDDC, Oluyede stated, “You witnessed one of the projects commissioned was a support we got from NDDC. And, I can tell you that the NDDC, particularly, has been supporting the Nigerian Army. They constructed this major road here.
“And the same goes to the Government of Bayelsa State because I went to inspect some projects there that are being constructed by the state government in support of the army.
“We applaud and we encourage them to do more because like I always say wherever I go, the Nigerian Army belongs to Nigerians.
“These are people who are drawn from all states of Nigeria. So, it’s the people’s army. So, the more they support us, the more we’ll be able to do our job better.”
The NDDC Director of Projects, Hon Victor Antai, told journalists that the commission’s interventions in the brigade include three substations, nine concrete electric poles mounted with 500 watts of streetlights, a solar grid and solar streetlights.
Earlier on arrival at the brigade headquarters, Lt General Oluyede inspected a guard of honour and was received by the Brigade Commander, Brig General Obolo.
