By Kenneth Onuoha
The Nigerian Army has built and handed-over a 1.2 kilometre road at Umurusi-Ukehe Community in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State to unite Nigerians living within the community.
Inaugurating the road on Monday in Umurusi-Ukahe, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said that the project was part of Nigerian Army’s Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC).
Buratai, who was represented by General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Lasisi Adegboye, said that the CIMIC project was meant to further strengthen ties between the civil populace and the Nigerian Army.
He said that the Nigerian Army was fully aware of the high level of cooperation from the civil populace.
According to him, the Nigerian Army enjoys enormous goodwill from the civil populace across our great nation.
The COAS said: “Therefore, the Nigerian Army over the years has taken deliberate and well articulated steps towards ensuring that it contributes back to the society in the area of cooperate social responsibility.
“This is very much in line with my vision, which is: ‘To Have a Professionally Responsive Nigerian Army in the Discharge of its Constitutional Roles'”.
Buratai further said that the road would serve the collective needs of members of Umurusi-Ukehe Community.
He noted that it would also complement the efforts of the Federal, state, local governments in constructing roads that will connect communities across the entire country.
He, however, urged the people to see the road as a symbol of unity, adding that the road was not constructed for any particular group of people alone and does not recognise any tribe, religion or ethnic affiliation.
“Let this road project be a symbol of peace, tolerance and love among us,’’ he added.
Earlier, in a welcome address, the Traditional Ruler of Umurusi-Ukehe Autonomous Community, Col. Edwin Ezugwu (rtd), appreciated the COAS for choosing Umurusi-Ukehe community to be beneficiary of the road project.
Ezugwu said: “This road project shows the eemplary leadership of the COAS Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai in making Umurusi-Ukehe and surrounding autonomous communities feel the goodwill of Nigerian Army.
“It is of note that the constructed Nigerian Army’s CIMIC road project link the community to the newly constructed Amaekwefu Umurusi Civic and Health Centres.
“This two projects was also built by a proud son of the community, Maj.-Gen. Victor Ezugwu, Director-General of Defence Industrial Cooperation of Nigeria (DICON) for the benefit of humanity’’.
Dignitaries present at the inauguration included: Secretary to Enugu State Government Prof Simon Ortuanya; Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, ably represented by Brig.-Gen. Hillary Nzan; Managing Director of Peace Mass Transit, Dr Sam Onyishi and state’s Commissioner for Works, Mr Greg Nnaji.
Others are: Chairperson of Igbo‐Etiti council area, Mrs Nkechi Ugwu‐Oju, and other traditional and religious leaders from neighbouring autonomous communities.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, represented by General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Lasisi Adegboye, did the inauguration.