The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah has called on commanders at all levels to play their role and ensure value addition in command. He made the call, while commissioning a newly built 29 Battalion Officers’ Transit Accommodation at Port Harcourt Barracks today 18 February 2025.

Major General Emekah stated that the project was undertaken in record time, adding that the ground breaking was performed in October 2024, and the project was completed within a duration of 6 months. More thanks to the immediate past GOC, Major General Jamal Abdussalam as well as the immediate past Commanding Officer (CO), Colonel Ibrahim Aliyu Manga. The duo, he said brought the project to fruition, stressing that it is highly commendable.

He maintained that the project essentially complements the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), command philosophy, which places high premium on troops welfare. He futher urged commanders at various levels to key into the COAS command philosophy and the soldiers first mantra.

The GOC charged the new CO, 29 Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Irinam Joseph Otogo to ensure he prioritizes troops welfare under his command. He also urged the beneficiaries of the project to ensure they maintain the facility for posterity.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the CO, 29 Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Otogo stated that the project was a remarkable achievement made in realization of the mission statement of the GOC and the COAS command philosophy. He further added that the moral and physical wellbeing of the troops is as essential as battle readiness. The CO maintained that the output of a force is directly proportional to its personnels wellbeing.

The CO said, he assumed command, when the project was being completed, adding that he had the privilege to have facilitated the successful completion of the project. The project, he stressed will significantly reduce the challenge of accommodation in 29 Battalion. He used the medium to sincerely thank the GOC for his strategic guidance as well as expressed his appreciation to the Chief Executive Officer, EVOMEC Global Resource, High Chief Peter Onajite Esievo for the support, that led to the successful completion of the project.

The CO, however warned that the unit will not tolerate any act of misuse by the occupants, calling on them to maintain the facility as their personal project.