The Theatre Commander (TC) Joint Task Force (JTF) North East (NE) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) Major General Waidi Shaibu has on Thursday, 18 July 2024 organised and hosted a dinner in honour of troops to appreciate their doggedness and resilience in the fight against insurgency in the NE region.

The dinner according to the TC, was to create a relaxing atmosphere to wine and dine with his troops that have exhibited high level of professionalism and gallantry, especially in all the recent operational successes recorded across all Sectors of the theatre during the dry season operations.

In his remarks, “I am delighted to host you all here at the Army Officers’ Mess and Suites, in order to show my appreciation to you all for your efforts and commitments in all operations across the NE Theatre, especially during the just concluded dry season operations.

Your steadfastness and bravery have earned OPHK more commendations from Army Headquarters (AHQ). He added that the dinner was also an avenue to present offer letters to deserving soldiers who exhibited high level of professionalism in some major operations”.

The TC said, in consonance with the leadership and sound administration aspects of the three pillars of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja’s Command Philosophy, 3 Senior Non Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) were presented with Offer Letters of a fully paid 3 Bedrooms flat each from the Affordable Housing Ownership Option for All (AHOOA) Soldiers Scheme, out of which the AHQ paid 58.54 percent, while the Theatre Command 41.46 percent. The AHOOA Soldiers Scheme is a home – grown housing programme meant to ensure that soldiers are able to afford a befitting roof over their heads after a successful service to the nation.

Earlier in the day, the TC had his Mid – Year Durbar with the troops, where issues bordering on security, discipline, welfare, comradeship and warrior ethos were brought to the fore. He said the essence of the durbar was to have close interactions with the troops to clear grey areas and make necessary improvements in both operational and administrative concerns.

General Shaibu stressed that SNCOs and Non Commissioned Officers (NCOs), were the backbone of the Nigerian Army (NA), as well as the bridge between officers and the other ranks, adding that they must ensure that soldiers were properly groomed for the tasks ahead and benefit of the NA.

While assuring troops that all the valuable suggestions and observations raised during the durbar will be looked into and implemented, he maintained that the main effort in the NE was to play our role and fulfil the mandate of OPHK which is to restore normalcy and provide conducive environment for socio – economic activities to thrive in the NE. The TC further implored troops to gear up for the wet season operations in the Theatre.

The troops who were drawn across all Sectors of OPHK, were highly delighted for the honour and promised to continue doing their best to decimate vestiges of the Boko Haram Terrorists and their counterparts in the NE.

High points of the event were; dinner and refreshments in honour of the troops, presentation of AHOOA offer letters to outstanding soldiers, interactive session during the durbar, as well as group photographs.

REUBEN KOVANGIYA
Captain
Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations
Headquarters Theater Command
19 July 2024