Lieutenant General Tukur Burutai, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), has said President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered a balanced and widespread presence of the military across the country.
Mr. Burutai said the president gave the instruction to enable the military effectively confront the security challenges facing the country.
Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony of Army Barracks, Camp Buratai at Elebele in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the chief of Army Staff said that the new operational brigade in Port Harcourt, Rivers State was part of the initiatives to carry out the president’s instruction.
He said: “The establishment of 6th Brigade in Port Harcourt, 6th Division in Port Harcourt and the 16th Brigade in Yenagoa form an important part of Mr. President’s desire to have a balanced and widespread footprint of the Nigerian Army to deal with the myriads of security challenges facing the country in conjunction with other security agencies.
“As you may be aware, I was in Katsina about 10 days ago to operationalize the 17th Brigade under the new 8th Division whose headquarters is currently in Operation Lafia Dole, the theatre of operation specifically in Monguno but will soon relocate to Sokoto after the menace of the insurgency has been fully contained
“The Army has acquired the property and today, Governor Dickson has kept his promise. From what we have observed, of the preparation of this new site, so much efforts and resources have been efficiently deployed. Today’s ceremony is a testimony that with determination and sincerity of officers and soldiers, we can build institutions and regenerate society.
“The Brigade has demonstrated and achieved so much in infrastructural development and enhancement of troops’ well-being within one year of its establishment as well as meeting its training, operational and regimental responsibility.
“I commend the commander, officers and men of the 16th Brigade for their innovation, determination and professionalism as well as the clear interpretation of my vision for the Nigerian Army which is to have a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles.”