No fewer than 800 residents of Ojoo community, Akinyele Local Government Area in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, have benefited from a free medical outreach organised by the Nigerian Army as part of activities marking the 2026 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL).
The free services provided included health consultations, medications and treatment, provision of eyeglasses, dental care, and other essential medical services to residents at the one-day event.
Chinedu Nnebeife, a major general and general officer commanding (GOC), 2 Division, who represented by Modupe Falana, a brigadier general and chief of staff, 2 Division Nigerian Army, speaking during the outreach said that this year’s celebration, themed “Protecting the Nation and Serving the People: A Way Forward for the Nigerian Army,” underscores the Army’s commitment to fostering stronger partnerships with communities while sustaining its constitutional responsibility of defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and supporting national development.
She noted that the initiative was organised to appreciate the support and cooperation the Army enjoys from host communities and that the Nigerian Army remains committed not only to protecting the nation’s territorial integrity but also to promoting the welfare of citizens through humanitarian interventions.
“As you are aware, the Nigerian Army is 163 years old, and we are marking that anniversary. This medical outreach is one of the programmes organised for the Nigerian Army Day Celebration. It is our way of giving back to society,” she said.
“The Ojoo community is selected as a beneficiary to demonstrate the Army’s appreciation for public support. We felt it was important to appreciate the people by bringing this intervention to the Ojoo community in Ibadan. It is a demonstration of our gratitude for the support we receive from members of the public and another opportunity to strengthen the cordial relationship between the Nigerian Army and the civilian population.”
He posited that sustainable security can only be achieved through mutual trust and collaboration between security agencies and the people stated that community support remained indispensable to the Army’s operational success, Moses Azuorut, a brigadier general and commander, 2 Division Medical Services and Hospital, on his part, noted that the initiative reflects the Nigerian Army’s belief that national security goes beyond military operations to include the health and wellbeing of citizens.
The outreach, he pointed out, was designed to improve access to quality healthcare for residents of neighbouring communities, adding that a team of doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and other healthcare professionals was deployed to provide comprehensive medical services free of charge.
“As part of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration, we have packaged this medical outreach for our neighbouring civilian communities. Many of them do not have easy access to healthcare, so we came here today to provide the medical intervention they need. Today, we have enough medical personnel and equipment to provide consultations, dental care and several other healthcare services. We believe the outcome of this intervention will positively impact many residents of the Ojoo community.”
He said that the outreach would further strengthen civil-military relations and deepen public confidence in the Armed Forces.
Beneficiaries of the outreach, however, commended the Nigerian Army for the initiative, describing it as timely, particularly in view of the rising cost of healthcare, which brought much-needed relief to many families.
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