The Nigerian Army has held its first Inter-Division Combat Platoon Orienteering and Adventure competition, as hosted by the Headquarters 2 Division Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The event, which had seven formations of the Nigerian Army including the Army Headquarters Garrison, Abuja; 1 Division, Kaduna; 2 Division, Ibadan; 3 Division, Jos; 6 Division, Portharcourt; 81 Division, Lagos and 82 Division, Enugu competing, was held at the Old Oyo National Park, Igbeti, Oyo State, from Friday, 26 November, 2021.
In his remarks at the opening ceremony of the five-day event, on Saturday, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya, who was represented by the Corps Commander of Inter Formations Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Dickson Ehirobo, said the programme was aimed at giving participants the challenges similar to what the troops were presently facing in various operational areas across the country.
Yahaya stated: “We must therefore use this championship to prepare all personnel towards strengthening their fitness, their perseverance and mental resolve to overcome the central challenges and at the same time anticipate the emerging ones. Let me reiterate that this competition is about training and the value attached to it.”
He charged the various formations to motivate their officers and soldiers to give a good performance through positive competitive spirit and abiding by the guidelines for the conduct of the championship without contention, maintaining that the attainment of the training objectives of the exercise was far more important than winning trophies.
The COAS asserted: “I look forward to a keen competition by participants at this championship, with a view to ensuring the attainment of the twin objectives of sports participation and improvement in our combat efficiency. This will go a long way in ensuring that we focus our analysis of the training achievement in the training for year 2021, as we prepare to project for the training year 2022.”
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Gold Chibuisi, in his welcome address, said the importance of the competition could not be over-emphasised, bearing in mind the critical roles of junior leadership in the fight against insurgency and other myriad of security challenges confronting the country.
Chibuisi disclosed that the exercise, which was aimed at enhancing the operational readiness of troops under a competitive atmosphere, would further reposition the army for the professional defeat of all adversaries and assist in the attainment of the COAS’ vision of ‘a professional Nigerian Army ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in defense of Nigeria.’
He noted: “The scope of the competition, no doubt, will promote esprit de corps in various capacities such as physical fitness, map reading, navigation, administration in the field, as well as minor tactics, amongst others. I therefore urge all the officials, judges, umpires to ensure a level playing field for all the competing formations to enable them compete in accordance with the laid down guidelines, rules and regulations.”
Chibuisi expressed the appreciation of the 2 Division Nigerian Army to the COAS for the opportunity to host the maiden edition of the competition, as well as providing the needed logistics and other resources.
Highlights of the event’s opening ceremony was the 10 kilometer Road Run with 12.5kg Dead Load, undertaken by the participants and witnessed by the representative of the COAS.
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