About 3, 000 Military, Police and Para-military and security agencies personnel turned out and embarked on the 2nd edition of the Half-Marathon Route-March for security and response agencies organized by the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Saturday.
Roll call of the hugely successful inter-agencies march which commenced by 7 am from the Old Parade Ground at Area 7, Garki and went through Areas 10, Area 2, Area 3, Garki 2, Area 11, FCDA and parts of Central Business District, and ended by 9am, included the Nigerian Army, the Navy, Airforce, the Police and the Civil Defence Corps.
Others were the Nigerian Customs, Immigration, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Prisons, Federal Fire Service, VIO, DSS, the Media and the NEMA.
One of the Highlights of the route march was the rich vein of musical entertainment provided by the Mass Band comprised of personnel of the Military, Para-military and Response agencies which made the over 2 hours walk exercise a memorable and enjoyable exercise.
Abuja citizens, many of who could not help but marvel at the synergy and understanding of the route march seeing soldiers dancing and singing with other security outfits like civil defence and VIO, were seen applauding the initiative and clapping for the exercise.
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Some senior military officers who added colour to the march with their active participation included the Chief of Training and Operations at Defence Headquarters, Major General Ahmed Mohammed, Director of Administration at DHQ, Major General Lamidi deosun, Director of Defence Information, Major General John Enenche, Air Vice Marshal Adeuloye Dayo and Rear Admiral Dakwat.
Addressing the participants after the rewarding exercise, Major General Mohammed who represented the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin said, “Firstly, we must appreciate the efforts of the CDS for ensuring the organization of this route march which essentially is to create cohesion among members of the security and response agencies in the country because the duties we all perform is geared towards making our country peaceful and orderly.
Mohammed said, “Like you know, in the past, this cohesion was missing because of some misunderstanding and this led to some issues. That is why the CDS initiated this route march tagged ‘Together We Are’.
“The whole essence therefore is to make us come together as a team. I am happy to say that, I have seen great comradeship today. Security agencies are becoming closer.
“The issue of mistrust that was a problem is now in the past. Exchange contacts; get to know each other so that even if any one of you is in difficulty, you can contact yourselves. That is how you build relationships”.
Also speaking, Director of Defence Information, Major General Enenche said the route march which was bigger, better attended, and with higher moral achieved its objective of enhancing spirit-de-corps.
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