Pulse.ng : New GOC 1 Div. fetes journalists, vows conducive working relationship

By Mohammad Tijjani

The new General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Abubakar Wase, on Tuesday assured that the division would conduct responsible operations to restore peace to the areas under his responsibility.

The News Agency of NIgeria (NAN) recalls that Wase assumed Command on August 20.

The GOC also pledged to work closely with the media and all the stakeholders to strengthen support for the troops deployed for operations against bandits and terrorists in the North-West and contiguous areas under his command.

Wase made the commitment when he met with members of the Kaduna State Chapter of the Defence Correspondents’ Association, on Tuesday in his office.

The journalists were led by the Chairman of the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abdulgafar Alabelewe.

The GOC urged the media to report issues of security responsibly and always seek for clarifications before publishing in the interest of the peace and stability of the country.

Wase appreciated the defence correspondents for working seamlessly with the division and assured them of his cooperation and support in the discharge of their duties.

He says: “Sometimes, some members of the members of the fourth estate of the realm are eager to publish stories without confirming their true nature, I will ask you to please confirm before you publish your stories.

“I will state that we at the 1 division will do everything within our power to operate within our standard operating procedure, which is guided by the Armed Forces Act and the Nigerian Constitution.”

Wase said since his assumption of office a month ago, he had toured all the areas under his responsibility to assess the work of the troops in various commands and units, averring, “and so far so good.”

The GOC emphasised his determination to build on the efforts of his predecessors to restore peace and enhance the welfare of the troops.

He said the welfare of officers and soldiers was one of the core pillars of the Chief of Army Staff, and would be pursued diligently.

Earlier, the Kaduna State NUJ chairman, said that the visit was to welcome the new GOC and assure6 him of the support of the journalists operating in the state.

He extolled the improvement of the welfare of soldiers since Wase’s assumption of duty, especially the provision of buses for the personnel working outside the division’s headquarters.

Alabelewe said the union has had cordial working relationship with 1 division over the years and expressed confidence that it would continue under the new GOC.