By Hudu Shehu.
The Nigerian Navy has inaugurated a newly constructed five-bedroom corps members’ lodge and a renovated dispensary at Malam-Sidi Community in Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State.
The projects were executed under the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Special Intervention Quick Impact Project Scheme to support community development and strengthen civil-military cooperation.
The projects were also undertaken in honour of Rear Adm. Suleiman Abdullahi, Director of Logistics, Naval Headquarters, Abuja, and facilitator of the projects.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on behalf of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, Rear Adm. Mohammed Dahiru, Director, Project Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation, Naval Headquarters, said the intervention demonstrated the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to addressing critical needs in communities across the country.
He noted the Nigerian Navy recognised that the security and prosperity of the nation were strengthened when communities were empowered through meaningful development.
Dahiru pointed out that the projects were timely and impactful, saying that access to essential infrastructure remained a key driver of socio-economic development.
He stressed that the construction of the five-bedroom corps members’ lodge and renovation of the dispensary would improve the quality of life of residents, support healthcare delivery and provide a conducive environment for corps members serving in the community.
He urged the beneficiaries to protect and maintain the facilities to ensure their sustainability for present and future generations.
In his welcome address, Rear Adm. Abdullahi, Director of Logistics, Naval Headquarters,said the idea of constructing the corps members’ lodge was conceived after Operation Safe Corridor took over the NYSC camp at Malam-Sidi.
He maintained that the camp was located directly opposite Government Secondary School, Malam-Sidi, adding that following its takeover, the student population of the school began to decline due to the presence of the facility and other related challenges.
According to him, the development prompted the state government to close the school and establish a day secondary school at a different location away from the original site.
Abdullahi said the project was intended to address the accommodation challenges faced by corps members posted to the community and ensure that they had a suitable place to stay while carrying out their national service.
In his speech, the Special Guest of Honour, Gov. Inuwa Yahaya, represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Manassah Jatau, commended the Nigerian Navy for the intervention.
Jatau called on the people of Malam-Sidi to take ownership of the projects and ensure that the facilities were properly maintained.
He said the renovated dispensary would provide healthcare services to residents and anyone in Malam-Sidi who required medical attention.
The deputy governor also commended the Nigerian Navy for complementing the efforts of the state government through the provision of infrastructure that directly impacted the lives of residents.
Editing by Abubakar Hamza.
