The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Nigerian Army Major General Mayirenso Lander Saraso has commissioned a 12 unit cabin accommodation for officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (NARPAS) Regiment on 11 October 2024 at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base Kaduna.
The project is in line with the Chief of Army Staff Command Philosophy which is to “Transform the Nigerian Army into a well Trained, Equipped and Highly Motivated Force Towards Achieving our Constitutional Responsibilities within a Joint Environment.
In his remarks during the ceremony, the GOC stated that the Regiment had lived up to expectation since their establishment in 2022. He commended the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja NAM for the release of funds for the project and urged the beneficiaries to uphold, sustain and if possible improve on it.
He commended the Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar for availing the Regiment space in NAF Base for their operations as well as accommodation and charged the personnel of the Regiment to remain good ambassadors of the NA by ensuring the serenity and good hygiene of the environment and abidance to rules and regulations of the Base.
Gen Saraso also applauded the Air Officer Commanding Air Training Command Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Abdullahi for all the support given to the Regiment by the Air Component of the erstwhile Operation Whirl Punch and solicited for continuous support and collaboration to Operation Fansan Yamma. He equally thanked the Commander Nigerian Army Space Command Brigade General Goodluck Ugeleka for the successes recorded so far since his appointment and appreciated the project contractor for a job well done.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Agting Commanding Officer NARPAS Major Peter Efe stated that the Regiment commenced its operations in 2022 and that their major challenge was that of accommodation until the COAS graciously approved the construction of the 12 cabins unit accomodation for the Regiment. The project, he said started on 24 December 2022 and was completed on 2 August 2024.
He expressed his deepest appreciation to the COAS for the provision of accommodation for his Regiment and promised to maintain it so as to justify the enormous resources expended. He also expressed his appreciation to the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal HB Abubakar for providing the space within the NAF Base for the project and used the opportunity to extend his sincere appreciation also to the GOC for his sterling leadership, guidance and support.
He also thanked the Commander Nigerian Army Space Command for all his support and quality leadership and commended the contractor for the good job.
High points of the event were cutting of commissioning tape, unveiling of commissioning plaque, presentation of souvenirs and group photographs.