Niger Delta
13 Brigade Of Nigerian Army Rounds Off WASA 2021
The 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army has rounded off its West African Social Activity (WASA) 2021.
The colourful event took place at the Greenfield of the Brigade Headquarters located at Akim Barracks in Calabar.
WASA activities started in January 1946 after the second world war by the British who honoured officers that participated in the war.
It was later incorporated into the year-to-year activities of the Nigerian Army.
Speaking during the event, the Brigade Commander, 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Everest Ifeanyi Okoro said the activity is an age long military tradition which dates back to the era of the West African Frontier Force.
In his words, “The WASA is an age long military tradition inherited from generations far back to the era of the West African Frontier Force.
“From there, the tradition to organise social activity by units and formations to celebrate feats and successes recorded in military formations started.
“Since then, it became an annual event which demanded stocktaking and reflections on the activities of the preceding year,” he said.
He added that it is an opportunity to interact with families, friends and also provide a forum to honour personnel who excelled during the preceding year.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj. General Taofeek Lagbaja thanked families of troops in the Frontline for keeping the family.
The GO, 82 Division was represented by Brigadier-General Frank Etim.
He charged troops to maintain the highest level of professionalism and remain disciplined.
He also told officers that no act of indiscipline will be tolerated in the months ahead and warned against the indiscriminate use of social media.
“No act of indiscipline will be tolerated in the months ahead.
“You must adhere strictly to the extant rules on social media as encapsulated in the Armed Forces Social Media Policy which prohibits the indiscriminate use of social media,” he said.
He equally commended the brigade for it’s successful outing during the Excercise Stillwater which recorded tremendous success.
As part of WASA 2021, 8 soldiers comprising of five men and three women were honoured for their outstanding service during the preceding year.
Also, cultural displays by groups across the country performed and an array of traditional cuisines was served, as well as a tug of war contest.