The Special Guest of Honour/Commandant NAFRC, Air Vice Marshal Kingsley Lar, senior officers of the centre, in a group photograph with retiring Armed Forces personnel

By Evelyn Usman

Three hundred and forty-two retiring personnel of the Armed Forces, concluded their six months training at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre,  NAFRC Oshodi, Lagos, yesterday.

The retired personnel consist of 243 personnel from the Nigerian Army, 100 naval personnel and 16 from the Nigerian Air Force.

However, one of them died a few days before graduating from the Centre.

Speaking with journalists at the Passing Out Ceremony of the Course 01/2020,  the Guest of Honour /Commandant of the Centre, Air Vice Marshal Kingsley Lar, explained that before the COVID-19 pandemic which restricted both inter–state and inter-country movements,  the grandaunts were taken through practical and theoretical aspects which included travelling to other states and outside the country.

The essence of the training was to acquaint them with vocational skills that would enhance meaningful post-service life, according to the Commandant.

He charged them to remain dedicated and disciplined, as well as to maintain the highest level of integrity with which they  had served in the last 35 years.

 He said, “ As you graduate today, you have transferred from active military duty to the legion of veterans who contribute to making positive contributions to the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

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Reminding the retiring personnel of the rising level of insecurity in different parts of the country, Air Vice Marshal Lar,  charged them to  support various security agencies, especially in areas of community intelligence, noting  that the training they acquired was to enable them to contribute positively to their various societies and by extension, build a greater Nigeria

He further disclosed that in a move to broaden the scope of the centre, intake of trainees had been extended to other security and paramilitary agencies.

He said, “  In line with my vision to transform the NAFRC to a world-class centre for excellence for the training of vocational skills, not only for disengaging military personnel but for those in service as well as members of security and paramilitary agencies, the  Defence headquarters has approved one hundred slots  for the police,

paramilitary agencies including strategic military ministries, departments and agencies of government,

“ So, the next course which is in July 2020, is going to have trainees from the Police, Customs, Correctional Services, Immigrations, NEMA and the Ministry of Finance, Defence, Foreign Affairs, among others..

“ This would provide a meaningful forum for the cross-sectional exchange of ideas, improve civil-military interactions with an overriding commitment to enhancing smooth resettlement of military personnel to civil life”.

The occasion also witnessed the commissioning of nine rooms transit accommodation for personnel and a refurbished toilet for pupils of the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre Officers Wives Association,  NAFCOWA, among others.

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