The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has handed over keys and official documents of a brand new Toyota Hilux to the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of Headquarters 7 Division, Master Warrant Officer Mohammed Babayo, during an operational visit to the Division on Wednesday, 21 July, 2021.

A statement issued by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu revealed that development was a part of efforts by the COAS geared towards empowering Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSM) of the Nigerian Army to enhance their funtionality. 

It quoted the Army boss as noting that "the move is aimed at restoring the prestige associated with the office of an RSM," whom he described as "the custodian of Nigerian Army customs, ethics and traditions."

He also said RSMs in the Nigerian Army and the military globally, play pivotal role in refining, grooming and putting the regimental lives of young officers and soldiers in check, when freshly deployed to the unit, on passing-out from their respective training institutions.

General Yahaya further noted that it is paramount to provide them with requisite logistics to enhance their confidence and competence in order to reinvigorate and empower them for their essential role as a bridge between the Commanders and the soldiers in the hierachy of the Nigerian Army. 

He assured that he will ensure the construction of tied-down accommodation for the RSMs, as well as renovate existing dilapidated structures in Army Barracks to demonstrate his commitment in this regard. 

It would be recalled that the COAS had earlier presented two Hilux vehicles to Army Headquarters and Army Headquarters Garrison RSMs, during the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2021 in Abuja.