Ten officers of the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps (NAAC) were retired on Thursday after completing the mandatory years of service.
The pulling-out ceremony was the highlight of events organised by NAAC Headquarters in Bauchi, including the commissioning of its new headquarters complex by Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, on Wednesday.
Among those retired were six Major Generals: Maj Gen Nsor Okpa Ojiji (Reviewing Officer), Maj Gen MH Magaji, Maj Gen GB Audu, Maj Gen M Danmadami, Maj Gen JG Mohammed, and Maj Gen UI Moh’d.
Four Brigadier Generals were also retired: Brig Gen A Israel, Brig Gen BA Moh’d, Brig Gen D Abdulsalam, and Brig Gen SP Akpan.
Speaking after the Special Parade preceding the ceremony, Reviewing Officer Maj Gen Nsor Okpa Ofilii expressed gratitude to the Army fir maintaining the tradition, urging that it should continue.
Speaking on the NAAC’s past challenges, he noted significant improvements in accommodation and facilities, commending the efforts of the commander, officers, soldiers, and their families.
Ofilii also acknowledged the COAS for consistently providing resources to support the improvements.
However, he disclosed ongoing challenges, particularly inadequate equipment.
He urged the NAAC commander to seek support from superior authorities, including the COAS, for continued equipment upgrades, especially armoured fighting vehicles.
He also called on the Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, to prioritise the upgrade of equipments.
In his remarks, Commandant of the Armoured Corps, Major General Mohammed Ahmed, expressed mixed emotions about the retirement of senior officers.
He emphasised the Corps’ commitment to community service, including free medical services and water provision, and the high maintenance standards of the Corps’ equipment.
“I feel grateful, satisfied and highly honored to have witnessed a day that was filled with mixed feelings and emotions of the pulling out the retired Senior officers.
“We are happy that we did what we are supposed to do. We carry out a lot of services to the community ranging from free medical services to the provision of pipe borne water among others and if they tell us their problems, we promptly attend to those problems,” he said.
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