The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede, has lauded officers and men of the 16 Brigade of the Nigerian Army for their role in sustaining and boosting the nation’s crude oil production. Oluyede gave the commendation during an operational visit to the Brigade headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Monday, where he assessed ongoing activities and commissioned several projects.
He praised the Brigade Commander and Commander, Sector 2 Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe, Brigadier General Olufemi Obolo, for his leadership and the competence with which he has driven the brigade’s operations. The COAS also acknowledged the support of the Bayelsa State Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for their contributions in providing infrastructure that strengthens the military formation.
As part of his visit, Oluyede commissioned key projects, including an annexe building detention facility, a 300KVA electrification project by the NDDC, and a garrison house donated by the Garrison Commander, Lt. Col. Mohammed Sheriff Kaigama. He also inspected ongoing projects being executed by the Bayelsa State Government at the brigade headquarters. Speaking to journalists, he noted that such efforts enhance operational efficiency and create the right environment for officers to perform optimally.
Oluyede stressed that the Nigerian Army plays a critical role in safeguarding the country’s oil resources and urged troops to intensify efforts to sustain stability in crude oil output. “From the oil production sum that has been stable for a while, I’m enjoining them to do more so that we can have it go up maybe two million barrels per day. That way, more revenue will be available to develop the country,” he said. He added that officers like Lt. Col. Kaigama, who lead by example and add value through initiatives, embody the qualities the army seeks in its leadership.
Highlighting the collaboration with civil institutions, the COAS applauded the NDDC for providing infrastructure such as substations, solar streetlights, and road projects, while also commending the Bayelsa State Government for ongoing support. “The Nigerian Army belongs to Nigerians. The more the people support us, the more we can do our job better,” he affirmed. On arrival, Oluyede was received by Brigadier General Obolo and inspected a guard of honour mounted in his honour.
