Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), has charged soldiers to brace up in order to secure Nigerians better and tackle insurgency in the South-West.
Oluyede gave the charge while addressing soldiers during his maiden operational visit to 32 Artillery Brigade Owena Cantonment, Akure.
The COAS, who said that Nigeria was faced with different security challenges, said there was need for all personnel and officers to rise up collectively and stop the menace.
“We are doing our best with other sister agencies and other security agencies to bring these challenges to the bare minimum.
“I want to tell you this afternoon that the entire Nigerian state, the entire Nigerian people are depending on you to bring all these challenges to an end.
“If there is no security, there can’t be development. So, whether you like it or not, it’s affecting you and I.
“The money the government is spending on security is so huge that if we can make Nigerians better secured, those monies can be channelled to make the lives of all Nigerians better.
“Nigerians are looking up to us to make things better. So, what that means is that you must be ready to double your efforts, to work harder,” he said.
Oluyede, who promised to ensure the welfare of the soldiers and officers, said that he would do his best to make things better.
According to him, there is a plan to build houses for soldiers across the formations to ensure they have a place to live when retired from the service.(NAN)
