Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Nigerian Army has constructed and donated an industrial water borehole to the Ohodo community in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State to address the area’s persistent water scarcity.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, inaugurated the project on Saturday, describing it as a high-impact initiative aimed at “giving back to society.”
He was represented at the event by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Maj.-Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye.
According to the COAS, the project was executed in honour of Maj.-Gen. Patrick Eze (rtd.), former Commandant of the Nigerian Army Ordnance School, as part of the Army’s Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Special Intervention Projects.
“The COAS Special Intervention Projects are designed to support communities of senior Army officers who rose through the ranks to become Major Generals. They aim to appreciate both the officers and their communities for their service and support,” Oluyede said.
He disclosed that over 200 such projects have been completed nationwide in consultation with benefiting communities.
“These projects are top-quality infrastructure meant to complement the rural development efforts of state governments. They address urgent community needs, ease hardship, and improve the quality of life,” he added.
Also speaking, the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Maj.-Gen. Gold Chibuisi, said the borehole was designed to provide clean drinking and domestic water for residents of Ohodo. He praised Maj.-Gen. Eze as a distinguished officer whose over three decades of service left a lasting legacy.
“The project, executed under the supervision of Maj.-Gen. Eze, includes a 30 KVA soundproof generator, electricity supply, solar-powered security lights, digital surveillance cameras, overhead tanks, and multiple water dispensers,” Chibuisi said.
In his remarks, Maj.-Gen. Eze expressed gratitude to the COAS for approving and funding the project, saying it had brought much-needed relief to his people.
“The situation used to be so dire that during the dry season, residents paid as much as N50,000 for a 1,000-litre tanker of water,” he recalled.
The traditional ruler of Ohodo, Igwe Hycient Eze, thanked the Nigerian Army for the life-changing intervention and pledged the community’s full protection of the facility.
“We appreciate the Nigerian Army for solving our long-standing water problem. This project will significantly reduce the financial burden we have endured,” the monarch said.
A community member, Mr. Nicholas Agbo, hailed the Army as “the only messiah we know,” saying the project had brought great relief to the people.
Highlights of the event included the formal handover of the facility’s keys to the traditional ruler and the distribution of gift items to widows in the community by Mrs. Regina Eze, wife of Maj.-Gen. Eze.
