Buratai approves cigarette allowance, other welfare perks for troops at battlefield

The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Tukur Buratai, has reportedly approved a cigarette allowance as well as other welfare perks for the troops fighting the Boko Haram insurgency at the North-East.

A military source told PRNigeria that approval was aimed at further motivating the troops to give their best at the battlefield in the ongoing renewed onslaught against the insurgents.

According to the source, the troops on the frontline are in high spirits following the improved welfare packages.

The source added that soldiers who have also completed the Language Proficiency Course at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, NARC, were rewarded with extra N20,000 to the salaries on a monthly basis.

“No one would have believed that soldiers after the completion of the language proficiency course at the NARC that an amount of N20,000 would be added to their salary monthly.

“The COAS and Nigerian Army need to be commended for this laudable implementation,” the source said.
Meanwhile, the Military recently took measures to counter the activities of Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province, ISWAP, terrorists.

It was gathered that the renewed strategies by the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole are geared towards beating the terrorists at their own game and forestall their plans to hurt soldiers in the frontline.

Recall that Boko Haram had recently kidnapped scores of soldiers, especially those on pass along the deadly Maiduguri-Damaturu routes.

But responding to this emergent security challenge, the military has signalled a change of strategy to protect these soldiers and their families while on work leave.

To this end, the Central Command of Operation Lafiya Dole has activated three-pronged platforms that would be coordinated by some of the senior commanders at the frontline.

According to military sources, three top senior officers have been selected to work together.