By Dennis Udoma, Uyo
The Chief of Army Staff Conference has begun in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital with a call by Governor Umo Eno for the establishment of additional Army battalions around the coastal communities of the of the State.
Governor Eno made the call while playing host to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, who paid him a courtesy visit in Uyo on Monday.
Gen. Lagbaja’s visit to the Governor is to brief him of the Nigerian Army’s combined 2nd and 3rd edition of the 2024 Chief of Army Staff Conference which began yesterday, August 26 to August 30, 2024.
As a leading oil producer in the country, the Governor reiterated the establishment of a new army battalion, preferably in Oron federal constituency of the State.
The Governor who had previously donated gunboats and patrol vehicles among other security equipment to the security agencies, said the new battalion would reinforce the security architecture of the State, and lauded their commitment to preserving the nation’s democracy and security of lives.
He commended the synergy between the Army and other security agencies in the State assuring of the State Government’s readiness to lend necessary support to enable the establishment of the proposed army base.
Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Lagbaja said, the courtesy call to the Governor was traditional, to register their presence of the Army in the host state for the week-long conference.
He commended the peaceful and hospitable ambience of the state, which, he affirmed, informed the choice of the state for the conference.
Lagbaja noted that, the conference is usually hosted in Abuja, stressing that when taken outside Abuja, it is always to troubled spots, as a show of force.
He however said, the case in Akwa Ibom was different as they were in the State to relax and discuss serious national security issues.
The Army Chief expressed the appreciation of the Nigerian Army to the Government and people of Akwa Ibom State, for their infrastructural and logistic support to the 2 Brigade headquarters in the State, as well as the warm reception of his team to the State.
Lt. Gen. Lagbaja assured the Governor of the continuous commitment of the Nigerian Army to exert itself in ensuring security and safety of citizens.