By Oladapo Udom

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has commended officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their conduct during the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on Feb. 25.

Yahaya said this in Lagos on Wednesday at the inauguration of classrooms, offices and students’ accommodation at the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration (NASFA).

He said the high professional standards exhibited by personnel had provided the needed safe, secured, and conducive environment for the conduct of the elections.

“I charge you all to maintain the same standard, to ensure the civil populace exercise their civic responsibilities as we prepare for the Governorship and State Assembly elections on March 18,” he said.

“I will continue to provide the needed logistics for formations and units, to enable them discharge their responsibilities,” the COAS said.

He said that training was key to professional conduct in the Nigerian Army, as such he was always pleased to be in any of the schools and training institutions.

“Combat readiness for a professional army can only be achieved by well trained and administered troops, who are in a high state of morale to discharge assigned missions.

“One of the key components of training is conducive environment for learning, which in turn requires competent instructors or tutors, requisite infrastructure and good administration.

“It is in that drive that we try to provide necessary infrastructure and other facilities for our schools and training institutions across the Nigerian Army,” he said.

The COAS promised to continue to ensure realistic and mission-oriented training towards building professional standards in the Nigerian Army.

“I will provide a conducive environment for learning, improve skills and competences of instructors and students and sound administration of troops and their families.

“The quality of work and facilities installed in NASFA are of very high quality that will meet any standard in the world.

“I, therefore, commend the immediate past and current leadership of the Nigerian Army Finance Corps for aligning with my vision in the conceptualisation and execution of these projects,” he said.

Yahaya said that NASFA must justify the resources committed to the institution by ensuring that the quality of graduates could also compete with their peers from any part of the world and excel.

“I am confident that with additional buildings and infrastructure commissioned today and others coming on board, NASFA is being positioned for even better performance.

“I charge you to also ensure that the facilities are well maintained,” he said.

The COAS commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for his strategic guidance, untiring support and encouragement of the Nigerian Army.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Yahaya also commissioned the Radio-diagnostic CENTRE, 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba.

The COAS also commissioned the Remodelling, Renovation and Furnishing of Alafia Oluwa Primary School, Mushin. (