The Nigerian Army has promoted 2900 soldiers out of the 10,000 recommended by various unit commanders nationwide. It also promised to release the pending promotions as soon as all formalities are concluded.
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Onyeabo Ihejirika, who made the disclosure in Abuja on Monday, assured that more promotions would be effected after verification of the documents of soldiers who had been loyal and dedicated despite insecurity challenges in the country.
He decorated 14 of the 37 officers promoted from the rank of Colonels to Brigadier-Generals. The promotion of those decorated with the one star general badges and 22 major generals were released late December, 2012.
Among those who were decorated are the only survivors of the 2006 Military plane crash, Brig-Gen. Nuhu Angbazo, and the to the late President Umar Yar Adua, Brig-Gen Mustapha Onoyiveta.
Gen. Ihejirika charged the newly promoted officers to see their new positions as a call to higher responsibility and work towards achieving the vision of the army.
“’I dont want you to see your ranks as chieftaincy tittles but a recognition of good works. Your promotion is a demonstration of trust and hope that you have much more to offer,’” he said, urging the officers to bring out their best and promising that more will be promoted before the end of the month.
“Though we have decorated 14 colonels to the ranks of Brigadier Generals, a total of 37 were promoted and have been decorated by their superiors at different divisions. Every commander, every leader and every administrator would consider a day like this happiest day seeing loyal, hardworking officers being lifted to the higher rank. The selection process to get to this rank is tedious and challenging, and it takes a lot of hard work, honesty and forthrightness to get there.”
Earlier, Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, congratulated the newly promoted officers and praised the Army’s efforts in fighting terrorism, describing their promotion as a call to higher services.
Responding, one of the newly promoted officers Brig. Gen. Adekunle Sodunke said the officers are aware that the elevation is a call to more responsibilities and pledged to uphold the trust bestowed on them by the Military.
Earlier in the day, Gen Ihejirika commissioned the Army Headquarters newly built Officers’ Transit Accommodation at Moghadisu Barracks, Abuja. Senator George Thompson Sekibo, Chairman Senate Committee on Defence and Army, was the Special Guest of Honour at the event.
