The Nigerian Army has honoured its late former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, by naming a newly built complex at the Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management (NACOLM), Lagos, after him.
The facility was commissioned on Friday by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, who said the project reflected the Army’s commitment to improving professional military education, administrative efficiency and personnel welfare.
According to a statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the Lagbaja Complex was designed to support the college’s training, administrative and welfare activities while providing a suitable environment for developing skilled logistics professionals for the Nigerian Army.
Shaibu described the late Army Chief as a distinguished military officer whose professionalism, integrity and dedication to national service remained an inspiration to officers and soldiers.
He said the decision to name the facility after Lagbaja was a recognition of his contributions to leadership, force development and operational effectiveness during his service.
The Army Chief urged personnel and students of NACOLM to uphold the values associated with the late general by maintaining discipline, professionalism and commitment to excellence.
He added that continued investment in military training institutions, infrastructure and welfare remained a key part of his vision for building a more professional, adaptable and resilient Nigerian Army.
Meanwhile, troops of the 65 Battalion have arrested 24 foreign nationals during a security operation in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The operation, carried out in collaboration with members of the Vigilante Group, followed intelligence reports about the presence of undocumented foreigners within the battalion’s area of responsibility.
Acting on the information, troops raided a fenced compound at Imokun, in the Odo-Noforija/Poka axis of Epe, where they apprehended 15 males and nine females.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were from several African countries, including Cameroon, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau.
The Army said further checks were ongoing to determine their immigration status, reasons for their presence in Nigeria and whether they were linked to any unlawful activities.
The owner of the premises is also being sought for questioning to establish the circumstances surrounding the suspects’ residence at the location.
The suspects were later handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service, Lagos State Command, for further investigation and necessary administrative action.
The General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Major General Adebayo Babalola, commended the troops for their vigilance and professionalism, urging them to sustain operations aimed at preventing criminal activities and security threats within the division’s area of responsibility.
