By Okosun Dennis
Recruitment activities into the 80th Regular intakes have been rounded off in Lagos State. The nationwide exercise would have boosted the capability and capacity of the force to engage criminal gangs across the country as able bodied, vibrant young men and women have been selected to represent their various states.
However, to ensure that Lagos state benefits maximally, the Permanent Secretary in the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Kemi Durosimi Etti visited Ikeja Cantonment to confirm indigeneship of Lagosians that participated in the exercise.
She visited the centre with MS Adenike Togun from Public Affairs and other government representatives which included personnel from the Special Duties, Alausa. Also, the Director, Directorate of Army Recruitment, Resettlement and Reserve (DARR&R), Brig. Gen. E. H. Akpan, was on ground to oversee the selection exercise.
Receiving the delegates at the Parade Ground, Ikeja Military Cantonment, were the Recruitment Officer in Lagos State, Major Kolawole Bello, who in greater details, explained the smooth exercise even though there were some few challenges as characteristic of any recruitment exercise of this magnitude.
It was learnt that the 80th Regular Intakes has two categories of entrants which included the Non-tradesmen whose ages brackets were from 19 – 22 years, and tradesmen from 22 – 34 years old.
Our correspondent gathered that tradesmen included individuals who have had some technical training skills like mechanics, bricklayers, drivers and other categorised tradesmen while the non-tradesmen included young school leavers without any form of skilled training.
However, it was learnt that the meticulous disposition of the recruitment officer stood tall as every candidate was carefully screened by him with his team of officers and soldiers.
Although Major Bello declined comments during the visit by the Lagos State government officers, it was learnt that the “no-nonsense officer” imbued with avalanche of experience took time to critically access all the candidates with a view to getting the best among the hundreds that throng the parade ground, venue of the two weeks exercise.
Speaking about the strictness of Major Bello, an officer who spoke anonymously described him as “very intelligent officer who was able to detect some tricks some of the candidates wanted to exhibit to penetrate but he thwarted all.
“I can assure you that the high level of screening shown so far is an indication that candidates that would be selected as the exercise is rounded off, would be good representatives from Lagos State.”
Although the total number that would be recruited from the state couldn’t be ascertained as that was kept to their chest, it was gathered that despite the limited slots, the 20 local government areas of the state, would have representatives.
By extension, such numbers would be able to fill the huge personnel deficit confronting the force in order to be able to combat and prosecute the buffoonery of Boko Haram terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other organised crimes especially in the North East and North Central Nigeria.
The exercise was strictly conducted in compliance with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) regulations on Covid-19 as every candidate was mandated to wear his or her face mask throughout the two weeks exercise.
https://any.peopleandpowermag.com/army-to-boost-personnel-strength-concludes-80th-regular-recruitment-exercise-in-lagos/
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