BENIN CITY — Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has assured that the temporary facility provided by the state government for the operationalisation of the Nigerian Army’s newly established 83 Division in Benin will be ready within the next two weeks.
Okpebholo gave the assurance on Monday while inspecting ongoing rehabilitation and development work at the facility in Teboga, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state.
The governor said work had commenced at the site, including environmental sanitation, rehabilitation of existing structures and other preparations required for the immediate take-off of the division.
According to him, contractors handling the project have assured the state government that additional bulldozers would be deployed to accelerate the pace of work.
“The new division is coming to Edo State, so work is already in progress. Cleaning of the environment is already ongoing, while the existing structures are being worked on.
“The barracks and everything will be ready in the next two weeks. We are sure of progress, and a lot of work will be done here.
“The contractor has assured me that he will add more bulldozers to what he already has on site.
“This will enhance the pace of work and ensure the quick delivery of what we expect here,” Okpebholo said.
He added that the rehabilitation of existing buildings would continue alongside other construction activities to ensure the facility was delivered within the stipulated timeframe.
Okpebholo said Edo was fully prepared to host the new Army division, noting that alternative temporary office spaces were also available for immediate use if required.
He expressed confidence that significant progress would be recorded at the facility within the next two weeks.
The establishment of the 83 Division in Benin is part of the Federal Government’s approval for four new Nigerian Army divisions in the country.
The other new divisions are the 5 Division in Makurdi, 9 Division in Ilorin and 10 Division in Jalingo.
Speaking with journalists after the inspection, Commander of the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Balogun, said the visit was in furtherance of President Bola Tinubu’s directive for the immediate operationalisation of the 83 Division.
Balogun said the directive, conveyed through the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, was being implemented in collaboration with the Edo State Government.
He disclosed that a team from Army Headquarters had inspected the facility about four or five days earlier as part of efforts to actualise the strategic directive.
The brigade commander commended Okpebholo for providing the temporary facility, saying the level of work carried out within a few days demonstrated the state government’s commitment to ensuring the division became operational within the shortest possible time.
“Between the last time we came here, about four or five days ago, and now, we have seen tremendous work ongoing in that regard.
“I want to thank the governor for that, and we believe that within the shortest possible time, this place will be ready for the immediate operationalisation of the division as pronounced,” he said.
