Buratai tasks soldiers on selfless service, patriotism

Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), has advised graduating recruits to embrace selfless service, patriotism and high sense of discipline to pave way for national cohesion.

He made this known in Zaria on Saturday when he was speaking as the Reviewing Officer at the Passing Out Parade (POP) of the 75 Regular Recruits Intake of the Depot Nigerian Army.

Buratai, who was represented by the General Officer Commanding 82 Mechanised Division (GOC), Enugu, Maj-Gen. Adamu Babayo-Abubakar, identified discipline, commitment, dedication and patriotism as unambiguous path to success in life.

The army boss urged the graduating recruits to make discipline their watchword and work hard to prosper in their future endeavours.

He charged them to strive hard to continue to be symbols of pride to their families, good ambassadors of the Depot, the Nigerian Army and the nation at large.

Buratai said the rigorous training received from the Depot Nigerian Army was meant to mold them to become vibrant soldiers that would actively defend the integrity of their fatherland.

Buratai observed that Depot Nigerian Army had remained pivotal in the production of lower cadre manpower for the Nigerian Army.

“This had been happily executed in the transformation of the able bodied young men and women from civilians into combatant soldiers recruited to rely on to defend our territorial integrity from external and internal threats.

“This function had even become more important, particularly in this period of doubting but insurmountable security challenges.

“Therefore, the role of this institution in manpower development of Nigerian Army is critical toward ensuring national security and economic development, ” he said.

He lauded the efforts of the Depot Commandant, Brig-Gen. Christopher Musa and his lieutenants for providing adequate professional training to the young soldiers and structural development.

Buratai urged them to keep the flag flying for the good of the nation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the passing out parade, produced about 5,898 recruits out of the initial 6,000 recruits, who earlier reported and registered for the training.

NAN reports that the POP featured presentation of awards to deserving recruits who distinguished themselves to include best female recruit, best overall recruit, Commandant’s award for Leadership and Regimentation, Chief of Administration’s award and COAS award.