Uzodinma, Buratai ask soldiers to maintain professionalism, discipline

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, have urged troops to maintain high standards of discipline and professionalism to contain the security challenges facing the country.

The duo, who spoke at yesterday’s opening ceremony of the 2020 Nigerian Army Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSM) Convention in Owerri, said soldiers must uphold the core values of the Nigerian Army to discharge their roles and gain respect and admiration from the people.

Uzodinma stressed the need for effective leadership, loyalty, selfless service, integrity and discipline in the force for continued peace and unity in the country.

He applauded the Army for their efforts to tackle insurgence and other security problems in the country.

The governor assured the military and paramilitary forces of more support to boost their morale.

Buratai, who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Nigerian Army, Lt. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, urged participants to share their knowledge and experiences with younger officers to enhance their careers.

The COAS stressed the need to strengthen regimentation and discipline both in the force and barracks.

In his address, the General Officer Commanding, 82 Division, Major General Lasisi Adegboye, said the theme of the event, “Regimentation as an Instrument of Professionalism: The Role of the RSM”, was designed to build the competence and equip participants with the knowledge to perform their roles and promote professionalism in the Nigerian Army.

He said: “There is no gainsaying that a Regimental Sergeant Major is the custodian and repository of unit regimentation as well as the most effective link between officers and soldiers.

“I therefore urge the participants to plan how best you can perform your role at different levels in the interest of the Nigerian Army and the country at large.”

Meanwhile, the Imo State Government has entered into a partnership with the Well on Wheels (WOW) of the Royal Dutch Tuberculosis Foundation (KNCV) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to screen, test and treat residents in the 27 local government areas of the state.

Uzodimma, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Damaris Osunkwo, said this during the opening of the COVID-19 and tuberculosis testing at Imo Specialist Hospital, Owerri.

He commended the KNCV and USAID for exercise.

“We want to make sure that Imo State is COVID-19- free. We want to also test for hypertension, diabetes, malaria and others,” the governor said.

Executive Director, KNCV, Dr. Bertrand Odume, said the organisation had modular diagonistic system laboratory, with artificial intelligence to screen, test and treat any case detected.

He emphasise that all treatments would be done free of charge.