By Kenneth Onuoha
365Daily – Maj-General Taoreed Lagbaja, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, has charged soldiers to be combat ready and maintain physical fitness.
Lagbaja gave the charge on Monday, April 19, 2021, during the opening ceremony of Inter-Brigade Corporals and Below Competition, 2021 being held At Abakpa Military Cantonment, Enugu.
The GOC said that the objective of the competition was to develop physical fitness, combat proficiency and further foster espirit-de-corps among the ranks of corporals and below within the Division.
He said that the Nigeria Army and indeed the Division would continue to make training and re-training its key driver in order to get all officers and soldiers ready for combat deployment.
“As the Nigerian Army continues to professionalise, training has continued to assume greater emphasis.
“Fortunately, at this point in time, we have a Chief of Army Staff who has made training a key objective in his command philosophy,’’ he said.
Lagbaja noted that the competition would include weapon handling, obstacle crossing, cross country relay race, map reading, drill, shooting and combat swimming.
He said that soldiers remain the bedrock of all sub-unit and units, adding that “it is a well-known fact that a chain is as strong as its weakest link.’’
“We expect a fair competition. We have unbiased umpires to do justice to the competition and they will conduct it with known laid down rules and regulation,’’ he said.
The four formations under the Division are taking part in the five days competition.
The formations include 13 Brigade, Calabar; 14 Brigade, Ohafia; 82 Division Garrison and 44 Engineers/54 Signals Brigade, Enugu.