The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, has flag off the first COAS Combat Platoon Cross Country Championship (CPC3) 2022 at the Elele Military Cantonment in Rivers State, Nigeria.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the COAS who was represented by the Corps Commander, Nigerian Army Ordinance Corps Major General Ayobami Ibikunle, said that the competition is aimed at harnessing the physical fitness and combat readiness of Nigerian Army personnel to effectively confront the myriads of security challenges afflicting the nation.
He reiterated that the competition is also focused at restructuring the perspectives of Nigerian Army personnel towards capacity building through group training. The COAS further urge participants to display high level of seriousness and the spirit of comradeship through out the competition as he warns against any form of malpractice.
Also speaking at the event, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigerian Army and Land Component Commander Joint Task Force South South Operation Delta Safe, Major General Olufemi Oluyede said that participants for the Combat Platoon Cross Country Championship were drawn from all the Divisions of the Nigerian Army.
The Divisions include 1 Division Kaduna State, 2 Div Ibadan Oyo State, 3 Div Jos Plateau State, 6 Div Port Harcourt Rivers State, 81 Div Lagos State, 82 Div Enugu State and the Army Headquarters Garrison Abuja except for 7 and 8 Divisions who are currently on operations in the North East and North West respectively.
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Major General Oluyede stated that the competition is designed to strengthen troops endurance so as to be able to strive in the current difficult operating environment in line with the COAS vision of having “A professional Nigerian Army ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in defence of Nigeria”.
Speaking further, the GOC expressed his gratitude to the Chief of Army Staff for the opportunity given to 6 Division to host this event as he commended the officers and soldiers for their efforts in ensuring the smooth conduct of the event.
Present at the ceremony were representatives from Training and Doctrine Command, representatives from Army HQ, the Director Physical Training, Division Training Officers.
Heads of sister security agencies and paramilitary in Rivers State, as well as other senior Officers were also present at the event.
Highlights of the ceremony were the official flag off of the competition, presentation of souvenir, oath taking by both representative of the officials and participants, 5km combat race, beam heaving, sit ups, push ups, vertical rope climbing, step beach test, and group photographs.
