COAS has identified the importance of getting closer to people in winning army operations.

Speaking on Friday at the commissioning of civil military cooperation town hall project in Akinmoorin, Lt. General Yahaya maintained that the project is part of Nigeria Army program in giving back to the host communities.

Yahaya further said that, “This is part of Nigeria Army civil military relations to give back to the communities, in other sectors they call it social corporate responsibility, in the Army we call it civil military relations and to give back to the people, our host communities some of their requirements of the amenities, with  the aim to bring the Army much closer to the people, communities and to win their minds.”

“For you to win in your operations you need people, you need people to win operations in your activities, even when you’re conducting operations you need informations, you need understanding of the people to win operations and you can only get it when you are closer to them, that is the only when you can get informations, you can then harness that informations and now conduct your operations for the success of the army operations and host communities.

“This is not limited to this community only, it’s across the country, we do this in most all places, few months ago we have done one in Lagos, and this is work in progress we are doing it continually all across the country and the aim is to attract our host communities to have the understanding that this is their Army, so they can get closer to us and give us informations that will facilitate our job for the benefit for all of us.” Yahaya said.

Major General Akinjobi in his words said, “The Chief of Army staff special intervention projects commissioned here today is a thousand seated capacity hall with associated facilities such as galley, convenience, office, changing room, and a gate house.”

He said further that “the decision for the town hall was reached after a successful consultation with stakeholders in the community, especially our father the Akinmoorin of Amorim, Oba Solomon Iyiola Owoyemi, and Baba Odubunmi, I’m even aware that the issue of constructing a befitting town hall like this has been a dream for over 32 years and I thank God that it is my reality through the vehicle of people around me through the Nigeria Army intervention project, this project has encouraged me to a lot of things, especially by the deeds of the Chief of Army Staff in support of people and community.”

The hall is named after the late Samuel Akinola Akinjobi the father of Maj General Olufemi Akinjobi for his dedication to the development of sons and daughters of Akinmoorin.

Dignitaries at the event include the General Officer Commanding of 2 Division, Fajuyi Adekunle Cantonment Ojoo Ibadan, Maj General Aminu Chinade, the Special Adviser to Governor Makinde on security matters, CP. Fatai Owoseni rtd, The Alakinmoorin of Akinmoorin, Oba Solomon Iyiola Owoyemi, some retired army generals, Akinmoorin chiefs, among others.