General Tukur Buratai, Chief of
General Tukur Buratai, Chief of Army Staff
Army Commissions Agent Banking in Barrack
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General TY Buratai, is
undertaking a 4 day operational visit of units under 3 Division
area of responsibility, in particular, the 20 Model Battalion of
the Nigerian Army located in Taraba State.
Shortly on arrival at Jalingo, Taraba State capital on Monday
28th January 2019, the COAS paid a courtesy call on the State
Governor, His Excellency, Architect Darius Dickson Ishaku at the
Government House.
The following day, he went to Serti Baruwa, Gashaka Local
Government Area, where he paid courtesy call on Lamido of Gashaka,
His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Zubairu Mohammed Sambo Hamman Gabdo
II at his palace and thereafter went to 20 Model Battalion. The
Lamdo Gashaka also presented a gift of a stallion and sword to the
COAS.
At the unit, the COAS after inspecting the Quarter Guard mounted
in his honour, commissioned the Agent Banking Services in the
barracks. In his remarks during the commissioning, he stated that
the decision for the Nigerian Army to go into partnership with the
First Bank of Nigeria PLC through Nigerian Army Welfare
Limited/Guarantee for the operation of Agent Banking, was borne out
of the need to bring banking services closer to Nigerian Army
personnel and their families as part of the Federal Governments’
policy of financial inclusion for Nigerians.
In his welcome speech earlier, the Group Managing Director of
the Nigerian Army Welfare Limited/Guarantee (NAWL/G), Major General
KO Kadiri, stated that though the Central Bank unveiled its
guidelines for agent banking in Nigeria in 2013, its operating
framework for agent banking was issued in 2015. As at today, the
Nigerian Army is one of the few Federal Government institutions and
the only service to key into the scheme and expressed gratitude to
the COAS for approving and funding the initiative. He further
stated that the process of introducing Agent Banking in Nigerian
Army cantonments and barracks commenced about 6 months ago through
a collaborative effort between First Bank of Nigeria PLC, Spark
Concepts Management Limited (the Aggregator) and NAWLG. What they
was launched today, was the result of that collaborative effort. He
also said that NAWL/G was optimistic that the Agent Banking
Initiative in Nigerian Army barracks will be developed in line with
best practices for mobile money and agent banking globally and
hoped that with time even troops salary would be paid directly from
Army Headquarters to units through Agent Banking facilities.
In his remarks, the Group Managing Director of First Bank of
Nigeria PLC, Dr Adesola Adeduntan, who was represented by Alhaji
Shehu Aliyu, Group Executive Director Retail Banking (North),
commended the Nigerian Army for the initiative “in coordinating the
welfare of members of the Nigerian Army who have devoted their
entire life to providing security for citizens of our dear nation
and have risked their lives; many have lost same in the course of
ensuring peace and quelling all forms of insecurity in the nation.”
He further stated that, “In fact, nothing is too good for personnel
of the Nigerian Army and the military in general.”
He also added that the partnership with the Nigerian Army
Welfare Limited/Guarantee was to provide easier and more convenient
ways of banking for the Nigerian Army personnel adding that Agent
banking helps you save money and time going to the nearest bank
branch or queueing at an ATM point.
The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, said that
they were “grateful to the Nigerian Army Welfare Limited/Guarantee
for collaborating with First Bank of Nigeria PLC to bring easy
banking to the esteemed Nigerian Army personnel and I trust that
everyone would benefit from this partnership.”
Subsequently, the COAS was at the parade ground where he
commissioned the newly constructed Saluting Dais by the unit’s
Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel MS Adamu and then addressed
the officers, students officers undergoing leadership and
regimentation course, as well as soldiers of 20 Model
Battalion.
Later in the afternoon, the COAS was also a Special Guest of
Honour during the finals of a week Sports competition organized by
the unit that featured football match and Tug of war.
During the competition Government Army Day Secondary School
Serti Baruwa emerged the overall best, Bilingual College emerged
second best, while the third position went to Early Demonstration
Academy, Serti Baruwa.
SANI KUKASHEKA USMAN
Brigadier General
Director Army Public Relations