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113 Generals Retire From Nigerian Army
…As Badaru assures prompt payment of entitlements
One hundred and thirteen Generals of the Nigerian Army have retired or would be retiring from the Service this year even as the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has praised them for their sacrifices and unwavering commitment to the nation’s stability.
The Minister also assured them of prompt payment of their pension entitlements.
Badaru gave the assurance on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, during a Regimental Dinner Night organised in honour of the newly retired and retiring senior officers at the Armed Forces Officers’ Mess in Asokoro, Abuja.
A statement by the director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, said the honourees included one General, one Lieutenant General, 67 Major Generals and 44 Brigadier Generals, who bowed out of the Nigerian Army, after meritorious and dedicated service without blemish to the nation within the year.
The minister urged the retirees to reflect appropriately on the next phase of life, assuring them of Government’s commitment to prompt payment of pensions of retired personnel.
Badaru saluted the retirees and expressed the nation’s gratitude for their exemplary service, love for country and commended their spouses for their perseverance.
He charged members of the Armed Forces to remain loyal and sustain the culture of supporting democracy in Nigeria and across the shores.
He added that the disposition of the Armed Forces towards democracy had made it a shining example in West Africa and an influencer in the comity of nations.
The minister stated that the occasion provided Nigerian Army the opportunity to reflect on its service and profound dedication as demonstrated by the retired and retiring senior officers.
He said the experiences and skills garnered while in Service and respect for diversity, which has been their working principles throughout their career, will provide them a veritable platform as they exit the service.
Badaru stated that the federal government will continue to do all within its reach to improve the well-being of serving and retired personnel.
In his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, enjoined the retired senior officers to appreciate God and the Nigerian Army for a successful sojourn in the ‘noble profession of arms’ and attaining the point of meritorious disengagement from active service.
The COAS appreciated the wives and families of the retired senior officers for their patience and support while holding the home front.
Gen. Lagbaja expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly and the Defence Ministers for their untiring support to the Nigerian Army.
He reaffirmed the unalloyed loyalty of the Army to the President and the nation in the discharge of its constitutional roles in defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
In a vote of thanks on behalf of retired Generals, Major General Victor Ezugwu (Rtd) appreciated the COAS for the honour accorded them, pledging that they will remain good ambassadors of the Nigerian Army, even in retirement.
Highlights of the event were the presentation of record of service certificates and souvenirs to the retired and retiring senior officers and a loyal toast to the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra State Sector Command, has confirmed the death of a woman in an accident at Okpoko Market on the Asaba-Onitsha Road.
The Sector Commander, Mr Adeoye Irelewuyi, who confirmed the accident to journalists in Awka on Thursday, said that the woman was hit while she was crossing the road.
He said that the accident, which occurred on Wednesday, involved a commercial tow truck with registration number XA550BMA.
“Eyewitness report reaching us indicates that the truck was towing a vehicle in an uncontrollable speed along the axis.
“The vehicle that was being towed got detached from the tow truck.
“It hit and killed a female adult, who was said to be crossing the road, while the tow truck continued its movement.
“FRSC rescue team came to the scene and took the woman to Toronto Hospital, Onitsha, where she was confirmed dead and her body deposited at the hospital’s mortuary,” he said.
While sympathising with the family of the dead, the sector commander urged motorists, especially tow truck drivers, to exercise a high level of professionalism.
He also urged the drivers to always use standard equipment and avoid speeding.
The Chairman, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Lagos State Chapter, Mr Mojeed Iyiola, said the state government’s maize palliative to members of the association made a positive impact on the sector.
Iyiola said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.
“We received about 150,000 tons of maize in February from the Lagos State government as palliative to cushion the effect of high feed prices.
“The major benefit of the palliative is that it actually cushioned the cost of production for most poultry farmers in the state.
“The palliative was beneficial as it made the cost of some poultry produce, especially eggs to drop,” Iyiola said.
He noted that prior to the palliative, a crate of egg was sold between N3,500 and N3,700 at the farm gate, but after the palliative, it now sells between N3,200 and N3,400.
According to the PAN chair, retailers and middlemen who sell from N3,800 to N4,200 do that for their personal gain.
“We have urged our members to sell their eggs at reasonable prices following the receipt of the palliative from the government.
“We appreciate the Lagos State government for the palliative but we also urge the federal government to do likewise, to further reduce the cost of production in the sector.
“This will consequently lead to drop in the prices of all poultry produce across board,” he said.
He said the palliative was shared among financial members of the association at no extra cost.
“As an association we shared the grains equally across PAN’s eight zones in the state equally. We also mandated each zone not the sell even a grain of the maize.
“We, however, considered new poultry farmers who wanted to the join the association as beneficiaries of the palliative,” said Iyiola.
He noted that through the palliative, more poultry farmers were recruited into the association.
“The maize was shared only to poultry farmers and not feed millers, it is the major component of poultry feed formulation,” he said.
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