By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe
GOMBE — Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has pledged the state government’s support for the accelerated take-off of newly established Nigerian Army formations in the state.
Yahaya gave the assurance when a delegation representing the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 3rd Armoured Division, Nigerian Army, paid a courtesy visit to the palace of the Mai Kaltungo, Engr. Saleh Mohammed.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, the governor expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the establishment of the 271 Tank Battalion in Bajoga and 272 Tank Battalion in Kaltungo.
He said the new formations would strengthen the security architecture of the state and contribute to protecting lives and property in the North-East, which continues to face insurgency, banditry and other security challenges.
Yahaya also commended the Federal Government and the state government for their roles in facilitating the conversion of the Snakebite Hospital, Kaltungo, into a National Snakebite Research Centre.
Njodi further commended the Mai Kaltungo for his contributions to the development of the chiefdom and initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of its people.
Earlier, the representative of the GOC, 3rd Armoured Division, and Commander, 301 Artillery Regiment, Gombe, Col. S.O. Bike, said the establishment of the new formations was part of the Nigerian Army’s expansion from eight to 12 divisions.
Bike, who is also Team Lead of the Technical Assessment Team, said the delegation was in Gombe to engage the state government on arrangements for the commencement of operations of the 27 Armoured Brigade and its component units.
He listed the formations as the 27 Armoured Brigade Garrison, 271 Tank Battalion and 272 Tank Battalion.
According to him, the team’s visit to Kaltungo was also to assess facilities provided for the initial take-off of the 272 Tank Battalion.
He commended the Gombe State Government and the traditional institution in Kaltungo for their cooperation and support towards the establishment of the formation.
Responding, the Mai Kaltungo, Engr. Saleh Mohammed, thanked President Tinubu and Governor Yahaya for supporting the establishment of strategic Federal Government institutions in the chiefdom.
He pledged the continued support and cooperation of the people of Kaltungo to the Nigerian Army and the newly established 272 Tank Battalion.
The delegation subsequently inspected a proposed temporary site at a private boarding school designated for the initial take-off of the battalion.
The Technical Assessment Team expressed satisfaction with the facility and commended the Mai Kaltungo and residents of the chiefdom for their efforts in providing a temporary location.
The team also acknowledged the identification of about 90 hectares of land for the permanent development of the military facility, as well as available accommodation for officers.
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