NADCEL 2024: 146 Battalion Commissions Quick Impact Projects, Distributes Aids, Education Support in Bonny and Calabar to mark Army Day

In commemoration of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration 2024 (NADCEL 2024), 146 Battalion, Nigerian Army has made donations to Persons with Special Needs, students and a health facility in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Quick Impact Projects were also commissioned and donations made to widows, magajiyas and corps members in Eburutu Military Cantonment Calabar, Cross River State.

The Commanding Officer, 146 Battalion, Lt. Col. Oyemade Ade Oyewumi made the presentations on behalf of the Nigerian Army (NA) on Thursday 4 and Friday 5 July 2024 to the beneficiaries in Bonny Island and Calabar in Rivers and Cross River States respectively.

The Nigerian Army Day Celebration is an annual event typically held on July 6 in honour of officers and men of the NA. It honours those that fought in World War I and II as well as those that lost their lives during the Nigerian Civil War. It also honours those currently serving in the NA.

Wheelchairs were donated to Persons with Special Needs and Finima Health Centre, Finima, while educational materials were donated to Government Girls’ Secondary School (GGSS) Finima-Bonny, Bonny Island, Rivers State.

The 146 Battalion Commanding Officer (CO) said the donations were in consonance with the spirit of NADCEL 2024. He noted that the civilian populace is critical to the function of the NA not just as beneficiaries of its operations but as key partners in the execution of its statutory mandate.

At GGSS Finima-Bonny, the CO urged the students to see soldiers as friends and always interact with them, pointing out that the Army needs information to do its job and every citizen shares in the responsibility of ensuring security by providing accurate and timely information.

In line with NADCEL 2024, the CO also commissioned boreholes and fetching points. He donated writing materials to students of Command Children’s School, Army Day Secondary School and writing materials with a drum set to Army Children’s School all at Eburutu Military Cantonment Calabar, Cross River State.

Also at Eburutu Military Cantonment Calabar, Cross River State, the CO donated wrappers to widows, magajiyas, mattresses to the newly renovated Corpers’ Lodge and installed a Low Voltage Maximum Demand (LVMD) Meter in the Mammy Market.

Receiving the educational materials at GGSS, Finima-Bonny, the Principals of the Senior Secondary and Upper Basic Education (UBE) sections, Christiana Tamuno-Omubo and Dabota Sodienye represented by their Vice Principals Darling Allaputa and Fikini Sunday, respectively.

Mrs. Allaputa thanked the Army for the good gesture. They noted that the materials donated will help amplify the academic activities of the students, reduce the economic burden on their parents and improve their quest for education substantially.

In a chat with Kristina Reports, some of the beneficiaries of the wheelchairs, Sopirinye Stowe and Evelyn Longjohn expressed appreciation for the donation, noting that the wheelchairs would enhance their mobility henceforth. They thanked the NA for coming to their aid, praying that Almighty God reward the Army for the good gesture while they continue to do more to assist humanity.

On his part, the Medical Doctor in charge at the Finima Health Centre, Finima, Anthony Ibeawuchi thanked the NA for the donation, saying that such gestures help alleviate the sufferings of the beneficiaries, expressing optimism for more collaborations between the Army and the medical community.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja had announced at a press briefing on Monday, July 1 2024 that the NA will be commemorating its 161st year anniversary on Saturday July 6 2024, in Jos, the Plateau State Capital.

He further announced that the NA ranked very high in the Global Firepower Index, 2024.

In its primary area of responsibility, 146 Battalion has continued to assert security governance, ensuring security of lives and properties of citizens, neutralizing ongoing threats to security and assuring an atmosphere of peace in both Bonny Island, Calabar and its environs.