By Linus Aleke
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, Monday, tasked officers and soldiers to use their sporting skills to enhance their fighting efficiency, especially in riverine and amphibious terrains towards fulfilling NA’s constitutional mandate.
The Chief of Army Staff gave this charge while flagging off the Nigerian Army (NA), Inter Formation Combat Platoon Swimming Championship at the National Stadium, Surulere in Lagos.
Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu in a statement, said the COAS was represented by the Commander, Corps of Nigerian Army Engineers, Major General Kamil Kadiri.
The COAS said, the NA places a high premium on qualitative training of its personnel across board, in furtherance of his to have “A professional Nigerian Army Ready to Accomplish Assigned Missions within a Joint Environment in Defence of Nigeria”.
He added that the championship would enhance the combat proficiency of troops deployed for operations in the maritime environment.
Soludo expresses sadness as fire razes section of Onitsha main market
The Army Chief urged participants to strive to bring out their best in the championship, as their efforts and preparation for the competition will translate to the relative ease in the conduct of ongoing and future operations.
Earlier, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division NA, Major General Obinna Ajunwa, reiterated the emphasis placed on training by the NA.
He expressed optimism that the championship would strengthen the swimming skill of NA personnel.
“The championship is a five day competition that will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will be the conventional swimming phase at the National Stadium, Surulere, while the second phase is the combat swimming at the brown water in Slave Village, Badagry. The participants were drawn from eight Divisions across NA formations in the country. These include 1,2, 3, 6,8,81and 82 Divisions, as well as Army Headquarters Garrison,” he said.
He said that they will keenly compete for laurels in different categories of swimming exercises.
