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By: Okosun Dennis
A new General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Nigerian Army has assumed duty at the Division Headquarters in Lagos.
He is Major General Godwin Umelo. He took over from Major General Olu Irefin, who has been redeployed to 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt as the General Officer Commanding.
During the handing and taking over ceremony at the Division’s Headquarters at Kofo Abayomi on Wednesday, Gen Umelo sought for the cooperation of officers and soldiers of the division to succeed noting that with collective efforts, there is no challenge that cannot be surmounted.
“It’s a privilege and honour to be appointed as the GOC 81 Division. I am not unmindful of the challenges inherent in command responsibilities like this but I want to believe that with collective efforts, we should be able to surmount whatever challenges that come.
“I want to challenge everybody under my command to be ready to work. I am a workaholic and I would ensure that the standard does not go below what I have met on ground and I extend the hands of fellowship to everybody as we steer the ship of the 81 Division to a greater heights.”
While addressing troops at the Parade Ground, Bonny Cantonment, Gen Umelo assured them that he would strive to ensure that what they need to function optimally are available within the limits of available resources.
On discipline and general conduct, he reiterated that based on the brief he has had from his predecessor, “I am impressed about your behaviours generally and urge you to continue on that brilliant note. However, I would ensure we have regular interraction where we could address pertinent problems,” Gen Umelo added.
Earlier, Gen Olu Irefin while decorating him with the Division’s insignia and accoutrements in the conference room at the Division Headquarters, expressed joy and thanked God for this day. “It is exactly one year today I took over the command. I thanked God for given me the opportunity to be in charge of this Command,” he stated.
Describing himself as privileged GOC to command the division, reiterated some of the modest achievements to include plethora of structural development all over its Area of Responsibilities (AOR) in addition to the eight buildings undergoing renovations in Bonny Cantonment.
On Training, “We had so much especially the conduct of Operation Crocodile Smile 4, which combined all the services and had tremendous successes at curbing activities of miscreants within AOR.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t carry out all the scheduled first quarter activities due to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic,” Gen Irefin added.
Maj Gen Godwin Umelo was appointed three weeks ago following a massive postings and appointments approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai.
Before assuming office at the Division today, Umelo was formerly at the Army Headquarters, Department of Army Training and Operations (DATOPs), Abuja.
Senior officers that witnessed the ceremony included the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Oladele Daji; Corp Commander, Education, Maj Gen Mohammed Bunza; Commander, 9 Brigade, Ikeja Cantonment, Brig Gen Musa Etsu-Ndagi; Commandant, Nigerian Army College of Logistics (NACOL), and Corp commanders and soldiers.
