The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has flagged off Nigerian Army (NA) Inter Formation Combat Platoon Swimming Championship at the National Stadium, Surulere in Lagos.
The event commenced on Monday (28 November 2022).
The Army Chief who was represented by the Commander, Corps of Nigerian Army Engineers, Major General Kamil Kadiri tasked participants to take advantage of the Championship to enhance their fighting efficiency.
He said the exercise would assist personnel to conduct operations optimally especially in riverine and amphibious terrains towards there by fulfilling the constitutional mandate of the Nigerian Army.
He further reiterated that the Nigerian Army places high premium on qualitative training of its personnel across board, in line with the vision of the COAS, to have “A professional Nigerian Army Ready to Accomplish Assigned Missions within a Joint Environment in Defence of Nigeria”.
He added that the championship would enhance combat proficiency of troops deployed for operations in maritime environment.
He urged participants to strive to bring out their best in the championship, as their efforts and preparation for the competition will translate to relative ease in the conduct of ongoing and future operations.
The COAS commended 81 Division for selecting the National
Stadium Surulere and Badagry for the Championship, as both locations will provide realistic and ideal standards, with all requisite features for training of this nature.
Earlier in his remark, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Obinna Ajunwa reiterated the emphasis placed on training by the Nigerian Army.
Gen Ajunwa expressed optimism that the championship would strengthen the swimming skills of Nigerian Army personnel.
According to a statement by the Spokesman of 81 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, the championship is a five days competition that will be conducted in two phases.
The first phase will be the conventional swimming competition at the National Stadium, Surulere, while the second phase is the combat swimming competition at the brown water in Slave Village, Badagry.
“Participants were drawn from eight formations in the country.
These include 1 ,2, 3, 6, 8, 81 and 82 Divisions, as well as Army Headquarters Garrison.
They will keenly compete for laurels in different categories of swimming exercises”.
