The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya, has harped on a healthy lifestyle and the importance of physical training of all Army personnel, with a view to improving troops’ efficiency, preparing them for combat competitions to train for successful outings and ensuring that troops keep fit and live a healthy lifestyle.
The COAS made the remark on Tuesday, 17th January 2023, while commissioning a new gymnasium and swimming pool at the 3 Division Nigerian Army, Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Rukuba Barracks in Plateau State.
Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya, represented by the chief of army standard and evaluation, Major General S Mohammed, expressed delight while commissioning the beautiful state-of-the-art Rhino gymnasium and the swimming pool stating that it was of great significance for building a healthy lifestyle among military personnel and their families.
He said “The importance of this facility is significant to the health and fitness of personnel as well as improve the quality of life and competitiveness in the sporting arena consequently, the construction of sporting facilities of sorts as this in the Nigerian army is also in line with my aspiration to sustain a better lifestyle and healthy living conditions for the troops and their family members”
“The commissioning of this beautiful edifice with the state-of-the-art facilities installed is historic and worthy of commendation. This will to a large extent complement the government’s efforts towards the provision of qualitative welfare services for the Nigerian army personnel and the larger Nigerian society in the area of sports and keeping fit.”
According to him, the sporting facility is of interest to him considering the recent resolution of the Nigerian army to upgrade and improve infrastructures and facilities in all Nigerian army barracks recently, commissioning some sports facilities in 6 locations in Nigeria as such projects are aimed at upscaling the welfare of troops and their dependents.
The COAS commended the general officer commanding and commander operations safe haven Major General IS Ali for his visionary leadership and amiable achievements recorded during his tenure in 3Division and also commended all officers and soldiers of the division and Operation Safe Haven for their efforts which assisted the general officer commanding and commander safe haven to achieve the tremendous development of facilities in the division.
In his remarks, the General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander Operation Safe Haven Major General IS Ali, said the idea to construct the gymnasium and swimming pool is to promote a healthy lifestyle for the troops and their family.
Major General IS Ali said, “Just one year ago, on 29th of September 2021, our amiable leader The Chief of Army Staff led the foundation and stone for the construction of this rhino gymnasium and swimming pool, at the event the chief of army staff was emphatic about ensuring the project is completed and equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities as obtainable in modern gymnasiums across the globe; I’m glad today that with the support of the chief of army staff, this project is completed and fully equipped including two sauna machine”.
I’m also glad to note that the swimming pool is fully equipped with rightful facilities, it has the facility of warming the water because as you know Jos is cold and for the gymnasium, we have two sections one for the male and another section for the female” Ali said
He said with the commissioning of the beautiful edifice many of the personnel and their dependents who have to drive downtown to exercise will find happiness and joy in coming to the gym here; “I can assure you that this is the best gymnasium on the plateau.” he further stated
He went on to appreciate the chief of army staff for his uncommon leadership style and for supporting 3Division and ensuring all its activities succeed.
The gigantic edifice consists of a gymnasium, with separate gyms for males and females well equipped, with male and female changing rooms, male and female toilets, 1 sauna room for males and 1 sauna room for females; A swimming pool with shower and changing rooms for male and female and a pavilion floor that has the capacity of containing about 200 spectators.
