(NAN) The Nigerian Army on Wednesday in Abeokuta carried out a one-day medical outreach in the Ijaiye community of the Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun.
Brig.-Gen. Muhammed Aminu, the Commander of 35 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army at Alamala in Abeokuta, said the programme was in continuation of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL).
He said it was aimed at giving back to the immediate environment.
“The medical outreach was part of activities of the group to celebrate the existence of the Nigerian Army since its formation in 1863.
“The event was also designed to help in improving the existing civilian-military relationship,” Aminu said.
He commended the host community and the state government for the support accorded the military.
The Brigade Commander implored the state’s residents to continue to cooperate and support the military and other security agencies.
He said this would especially be in providing timely information, saying security remained a collective responsibility.
“NADCEL is also an opportunity to remember officers and soldiers who died in the service of the nation, and to reach out to their families.
“We are visiting orphanages tomorrow (Thursday) to distribute some items in continuation of the celebration,” he said.
Speaking also, a traditional ruler, Nofiu Otungbade, the Onijaiye of Ijaye-Tuntun in Abeokuta, expressed joy that the Nigerian Army was giving back to its immediate environment .
Otungbade noted that there had been a cordial relationship between the Army and the people of the community.
“Anytime we need their services, they have always been rendering it,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise witnessed a large number of residents taking advantage of the free medical outreach to access treatment of different ailments.
There was also free eye test, high blood pressure and general medical check-up.
Drugs were administered just as free eye glasses were given out, while treated mosquito nets were distributed to pregnant and nursing mothers free of charge.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
