by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The General Officer Commanding (GOC)3 Division, Nigerian Army (NA) Commander for ‘Operation SAFE HAVEN’ (OPSH), Major-General AE Abubakar, on Monday declared open the 3 Division “Corporal and below Competition 2024.”
While declaring the one week competition opened at 82 Battalion Parade Ground, Maxwell Khobe Cantonment Jos, the GOC/Commander OPSH said, the competition was part of the strategies designed to improve the competence of troops, which is in line with the three pillars of the Chief of Army Staff Command’s philosophy of “Leadership, Operational Effectiveness and Sound Administration.”
While challenging the participants to be better-trained and ready to take up the responsibilities of safeguarding the citizens, the GOC commended the efforts of the troops in dealing with all forms of security threats within 3 Division Area of Responsibility.
According to him, the competition was one of the strategies designed to further improve troops’ competence, as they are daily engaged in dealing with multifaceted forms of security challenges, ranging from kidnapping, banditry, arms deal, ethno-religious crisis and farmers-herders’ clashes, among others. “You will all be better trained soldiers, ready to take on responsibilities in the field,” he averred.
The GOC was represented by the Chief of Staff Headquarters 3 Division, Brig-Gen AU Gumel, who further highlighted the benefits of the competition, which he said “will foster esprit de corps, cultivate healthy rivalry among participating formations and provide an avenue to employ initiative and good judgment.”
The GOC/Commander OPSH also revealed that, the NA has recently up-scaled its training through healthy competitions among various formations across the country.
“The competition will bring out the required competence of the Division to consolidate on its recent achievements in tackling all forms of criminalities,” he stated.
Speaking earlier, the Commander 3 Division Garrison, Brig-Gen MK Sanda, stated that adequate arrangements were put in place to achieve the ultimate goal of the competition, and urged participants to make new friends and learn from each other.
He was also represented by the Commanding Officer Administrative Battalion 3 Division Garrison, Lieutenant Colonel HA Hammadu. The Commander 3 Garrison noted that, the event was one of the cardinal pillars of 3 Division training activities for the year geared towards improved performances of her troops.
He noted that, the event amongst other training activities and exercises was designed to build the capacity of troops of the rank of Corporal and below, to be physically fit and professionally competent to fill-in the leadership qualities required to lead men in the field.
Our correspondent reports that, six different formations within 3 Division Area of Responsibility comprising of 6 Brigade Jalingo, 23 Brigade Yola, 33 Artillery Brigade Bauchi, 3 Division Garison as well as 43 Engineer Brigade and 53 Signal Brigade, Jos would be competing in drills, map reading as well as endurance and obstacles crossing.
The opening ceremony was graced by Commanders of various formations, heads of security agencies on the Plateau and staff officers at Headquarters 3 Division.