Tinubu Approves Payment of Slain Soldiers’ Insurance

*Army chief lauds president, pledges loyalty to Constitution

*Says military operations curtailed Boko Haram, ISWAP, charges troops to remain resolute

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has approved the payment of group life assurance scheme owed families of Nigerian Army personnel, who died in action.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, made the disclosure at the ongoing  Combined Chief of Army Staff’s Second and Third Quarter Conferences 2023 holding at the Nigerian Army Headquarters Command Officers’ Mess 1 in Asokoro, Abuja.

Speaking while declaring open the event, Lagbaja lauded the federal government  for directing the payment of group life assurance scheme owed the families of Nigeria Army personnel who died in action. 

He expressed gratitude to  President Tinubu for his strategic guidance and the confidence reposed on the leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. 

Lagbaja declared the unalloyed loyalty and commitment of the Nigerian Army to the Constitution.

The army chief emphasised the critical role of sound administration and troops’ welfare in the army’s operations, adding that troops’ welfare and that of their families will remain paramount under his watch. 

He averred that the Nigerian Army intended to consolidate on all existing welfare arrangements and schemes to enhance the well-being of troops by providing befitting living quarters for personnel and effective medical care to injured personnel and continued support to widows and next-of-kins of the fallen heroes.

The COAS pointed out that the conference was designed to provide a veritable platform to review Nigerian Army’s administrative, training, logistics and operational activities, as well as other key issues relating to the service within a quarter, noting that it will offer participants the opportunity to review decisions taken during the COAS First Quarter Conference 2023.

General Lagbaja also charged “field commanders to ensure the maintenance of  platforms and equipment in their holding to prolong their life span and enable the nation optimise her investment”.

Highlighting the  operational successes of the Nigerian  Army

Lagbaja maintained that “Operation Hadin Kai in the North-east has effectively curtailed Boko Haram and other terrorist activities in the region, while Operations Hadarin Daji and Whirl Punch have checkmated banditry and insurgency in the North-west and North-Central regions”. 

He added that Operation Udoka  in the South-east had effectively curtailed criminal activities of dissidents. 

He charged personnel to remain resolute in their drive to deny all criminal elements in the society the freedom of action as their dastardly acts have only strengthened the army’s resolve  to intensify the onslaught against them.