The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to people-centred security with the commissioning of renovated schools, a community town hall and solar-powered boreholes across Rivers State as part of activities marking the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2026.
The projects, inaugurated on Sunday, span the state’s three senatorial districts and include the renovation of Community Secondary School, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers East Senatorial District; Community Secondary School, Lueku (Lussue), Khana Local Government Area in Rivers South-East Senatorial District; a Community Town Hall in Oyigbo Local Government Area; and a solar-powered borehole in Degema Local Government Area in Rivers West Senatorial District.
Speaking during the commissioning, Shaibu described the projects as a demonstration of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening ties with host communities through its Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) initiatives. He said the interventions reflected the Army’s resolve to not only tackle security challenges but also address critical community needs that directly impact the lives of citizens.
According to the COAS, sustainable security goes beyond military operations and is built on collaboration, shared responsibility and public trust. He noted that the Army’s community intervention projects, including school renovations, town hall rehabilitations and solar-powered boreholes, are designed to improve living standards while fostering stronger relationships between the military and civilians.
Shaibu disclosed that the Nigerian Army has executed more than 250 intervention projects nationwide, covering hospitals, classrooms, roads, ICT centres, solar lighting systems and water facilities. He added that previously dilapidated schools, including the one in Rumumasi, had been transformed into safe and conducive learning environments, underscoring the Army’s belief that education remains a critical pillar for long-term peace and national stability.
He urged the benefiting communities to take ownership of the projects by protecting and maintaining them for future generations. The COAS also appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for his continued support to the Nigerian Army, while reaffirming the commitment of officers, soldiers and civilian staff to the Constitution and the defence of Nigeria’s sovereignty and unity.
Earlier, the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (Army), Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi, said the projects were executed under the Nigerian Army’s Civil-Military Cooperation Programme to improve infrastructure and deepen relationships with host communities. He explained that the four intervention projects were strategically distributed across Rivers State’s three senatorial districts to ensure equitable impact.
In his remarks, Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Honourable Gift Worlu, described the interventions as transformative, saying the renovated schools would significantly improve learning conditions and restore hope to students and teachers. He expressed the appreciation of the people of Obio/Akpor and Rivers State to the Nigerian Army and the Federal Government, assuring that the facilities would be safeguarded and properly maintained.
