Metro
GOC 81 Division, Officers, Families Celebrate Annual Army Day Thanksgiving
By Oki Samson
It was an atmosphere of ecstatic joy in St. Charles Lwanga Catholic Church Nigeria, Army Cantonment, Ikeja, Lagos where General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. LA Fejokwu led the men, officers and families under his administration for the annual Nigerian Army Day celebration (NADCEL) 2021.
Full of thanksgiving to the Lord, Maj. Gen. Fejokwu expressed his gratitude to God while also commending the efforts of the gallant Nigerian Army. He was accompanied by his wife
and Chairperson, 81 Division NAOWA, Mrs. Oghenerukevwe Fejokwu,
Brig Gen Raymond .M. Ochei, Brig Gen MLD Saraso, Brig. Gen Saka John Edet, Brig Gen E.O. Oshunsam, their families, and other officers to dance gracefully in the presence of the Lord in the interdenominational service attended by Oki Samson of Trek Africa Newspaper.
The GOC Fejokwu then read the goodwill message of his superior, the Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. F. Yahaya. ‘It is my singular honour and privilege to celebrate this Army Day which marks 158th anniversary of the Nigerian Army. It is coming when the peace of the country is been threatened by insecurity but the Nigerian Army will not be deterred. This celebration showcases the Nigerian Army and is to honor fallen heroes.’
The Chief of Army Staff Maj. Gen. Farouk Yahaya asked the congregation to observe a minute silence in memory of the departed former COAS Ibrahim Attahiru and others who passed in the ill fated crash earlier in the year, ‘their sacrifices cannot be forgotten’, he affirmed.
The army general mentioned ‘information sharing, collaboration among security agencies as prerequisites for winning the war against Boko Haram, banditry, and other security issues. The Nigerian Army will leave no stone unturned. I urge you on to keep momentum of the operation.’
‘I appreciate and pledge unalloyed support for the President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR. I wish us all happy NADCEL celebration 2021’, he concluded.
In the same vein, Maj. Gen. Fejokwu sent notes of caution to officers and family in Division 81. ‘For the children, wives, and sometimes the soldiers, I want to re-emphasize that anybody who fights in any of the barracks will be shipped out of the barracks before we even find out what led to the fight.’
‘Any soldier who gets involved in illegality like getting involved in land matters, and others will be dismissed the same day he is caught. I am begging you. That’s why I come down here to establish it. Behave well. You don’t need to know me. You don’t need to come and beg me. Please be a soldier. Things are improving in the army welfare, be content with what you are being given. Be well dressed in and out. Wear your uniforms properly. Don’t turn your barracks to the poultry or farm. Adhere to simple instructions.’
‘I congratulate you all. May we celebrate more NADCEL. I commit you into the hands of the Lord. May you continue to prosper in all your genuine endeavors’, the GOC Div 81 prayed.
In his sermon during the service, the guest preacher Ven. Dr. (Col) NZ Davou prayed for the Army that God will neither leave them not forsake them just as He kept Joshua and He did for Moses. He prayed: ‘The Lord will be with the nation. That the Lord will be with officers in their duty posts and everyone on the frontline in the Northeast, Southsouth, and everywhere.’
The priest encouraged the force to return to the Lord and ask for His mercy for the force and for the nation. ‘Enough is enough of putting away the grace of God. Enough is enough of trusting in mammon and charms. God will keep you as you trust in God as declared in Psalms 23’ as he reminisced on the value and respect that the Nigerian Army had when he traveled for ECOMOG operations in Liberia and Sudan.
He also admonished the family, ‘The Lord’s General is beyond the ranks. Pray for your husbands. Your strength is dependent on his strength. You shield him in prayers. A prayerless wife is a powerless wife. A prayerful woman is a powerful woman. She can move mountains. Stand strong for your fathers, mothers, wives, and husbands. May no sudden death steal your joy.’
The Christian Women Fellowship and Catholic Women Organization added pep to the celebration as they did a dramatic music ministration in the service. A Media advocacy group, Prayers and Support for the Armed Forces led by the immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos Chapter, Dr. Qasim Akinreti also joined the interdenominational church service. They prayed for the Army and asked all Nigerians to pray and confess right for the Army and country rather than curse the nation.
The distinguished Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, His Excellency, Otunba Engr. Gbenga Daniel, has extended warm congratulations to Aare Adetola EmmanuelKing, Chairman/CEO of Adron Group, on the occasion of his 50th birthday.
In a heartfelt message, Senator Daniel praised Aare Adetola EmmanuelKing for his outstanding dedication and immense contributions to the Nigerian housing sector. He described the celebrant as a shining example in the business community, whose passion and commitment have left an indelible mark on the real estate industry across Nigeria.
“You are indeed a source of inspiration to your generation and a shining example within the business environment. There is no doubt that you had written your name in an indelible ink across Nigeria and most especially among the real estate developers,” he wrote.
Senator Daniel also acknowledged Aare Adetola EmmanuelKing’s conferment as the ‘Otun-Asiwaju of Remo Christians’ by the Ogun State branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), as a reflection of his God-fearing nature, philanthropic spirit, and commitment to humanity.
The senator offered prayers for good health, greater accomplishments, and many more remarkable years ahead for the business mogul.
He concluded by affirming his highest regards and admiration for the celebrant.
The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has directed Commanding Officers to ensure full deployment of staff for maximum visibility, prompt removal of obstructions and ease of movement on all highways across the country. This is in line with the operational guidelines of this year’s Easter special patrol scheduled to commence from 16th to 23 April, 2024.
According to the Operation Order, obtained by the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), the objectives of the special operations are reduction in road traffic crashes, road traffic fatalities and road traffic Injuries; prompt response to road traffic crash victims; unhindered in purposeful public education and speedy removal of obstructions from the highways, amongst others.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed assured members of the public that in achieving the objectives of the special operations, the Corps will combine the engagement of the motoring public through purposeful and impactful public education programmes, strengthening of surveillance activities to regulate unprofessional excesses, sustained effective patrol operations as well as adequate monitoring on the highways.
To this end, the Corps would carryout aggressive enforcement including conducting over 200 Mobile Courts operations, with the aim of checking the following offences:
Speeding and Dangerous Driving/Overtaking,
b. Lane indiscipline/Route violation,
c. Road Obstructions,
d. Use of Phone while Driving,
e. Overloading,
f. Seatbelt/Child restraint Use Violations,
g. Passenger’s Manifest Violation,
h. Operation of mechanical deficient and rickety vehicles,
i. Latching and Twist-Locks Violation,
To achieve the aforementioned, over 743 patrol vehicles, 184 administrative vehicles, 92 ambulances, 23 tow trucks and 144 motorbikes are being deployed as part of the patrol logistics.
Furthermore, reflective jackets, traffic cones, tyre pressure gauges, a number of extricating machines and digital breathalyzers are part of the tools set aside for the special operations.
Added to the above is, a total of 23 Help Areas mobilised to ensure prompt removal of obstructions, and rescue operations during the period. This, he said, is in addition to the 15 traffic control camps which would be dedicated solely to identifying traffic gridlock areas to be manned by our personnel on 24/7 basis.
For effective monitoring and prompt response, the Corps has put in place a Situation Room at the National Headquarters to monitor the activities across the country, collate and process information for dissemination to relevant commands and stakeholders as the case may be.
This is in addition to 28 Road Traffic Crash Clinics and 53 Zebra points located along the major routes. This would be covered by 92 ambulances to be fully utilized for prompt response to crashes and rescue of injured victims to hospitals for more professional attention.
He also directed the Commanding Officers to liaise with other strategic stakeholders within their operational areas to secure the needed moral and logistics as well as security support. The Corps Marshal identified some of the stakeholders as Military formations (enroute or resident); the Nigeria Police (enroute or resident); DSS (enroute or resident); the Nigeria Immigration Service; the NSCDC (enroute or resident).
Others are Federal Ministry of Works and Housing; National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA); State Traffic Management Agencies; State owned NGO’s ambulance Services providers; National Network on Emergency Rescue Services (NNES);
Federal Road Maintenance Agencies and
Federal Fire Service.
On the overall preparedness of the Corps for the special operations, he expressed optimism that Nigerians would as usual, cooperate with members of the Corps and other security agencies as well as volunteers who would come out to assist the Corps in traffic management.
Expectedly, with the massive deployment of personnel and logistics and the envisaged public support, the Corps Marshal is confident that the celebration would be a huge success.
While reassuring the motoring public of FRSC’s renewed vigour towards entrenching sanity on the roads, the Corps Marshal also wishes all Nigerians safe and peaceful Easter celebrations.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders’ meeting in Ojokoro LCDA, Lagos State, ended in chaos on Monday over alleged imposition of a chairmanship candidate.
The meeting began peacefully at 7, Ijaoye Street, at 4:00 pm before aggrieved members stormed the venue in protest.
Protesters chanted “(unprintable word”; “We can’t take it”, and accused Speaker of State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, of imposing a candidate from Agege on Ojokoro residents.
Other chants included “Who knows Sanusi?”, “Obasa can’t control us from Agege”, and “We won’t allow a stranger rule us here”.
Speaking after the disruption, one of the protesters, Mr. Olusegun Akinoso-Olawaye said the meeting was a ploy to ratify an imposed candidate with no ties to the council.
He stressed that a chairmanship aspirant must reside in Ojokoro, and have worked for the party and actively participated in council politics.
He warned that imposing an outsider with no electoral history in Ojokoro would have negative consequences.
“We are here to reject imposition. All aspirants deserve a fair contest to prove their political relevance,” Akinoso-Olawaye stated.
He noted there are at least 18 aspirants for the chairmanship, all of whom had supporters present at the protest.
Another protest leader, Mrs. Bola Ojetayo, lamented that party leaders often prioritise personal interests over the will of the people.
She said the protest aimed to prevent installation of an unfamiliar figure as the next council chairman.
“We must not sell our seat to outsiders. A stranger cannot come and lead us in our own home.
“Leaders can’t sit elsewhere and decide for us. Someone in Agege shouldn’t determine Ojokoro’s leadership,” Ojetayo said.
In response, Mr. James Owolabi, a former House of Representatives member, and APC stalwart in Ojokoro, urged protesters to remain peaceful and avoid violence.
Owolabi, who represented Ifako-Ijaiye Federal Constituency, acknowledged the concerns and affirmed their right to protest within the party.
“You have a voice in the party. Express yourselves peacefully without violence,” Owolabi advised.
Other APC leaders present included Mr Jelili Oseni, council chairman, and Ipoola Omisore, a former Lagos Assembly member.
Also in attendance were Alh. Amosu Aminu, Chief Oriyomi Olaogun, and Mr Akindele Aremu, among others.
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) had scheduled the local government elections for July 12, 2025.
