The Nigerian Army has commissioned a fully equipped Primary Health Care Centre in Umuchieze, a rural community in Abia State, as part of its non-kinetic approach to peacebuilding and public welfare enhancement.
In a statement Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 82 Division, Nigerian Army Lieut Col. Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni said the facility, named in honour of His Royal Majesty (Eze) Reuben Oguchi Okwale (JP), a retired Major and former traditional ruler of the community, was constructed under the Chief of Army Staff’s (COAS) Special Intervention Projects.
Representing the COAS, the Commander of Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Major General KO Aligbe, officially commissioned the centre, which features a consultation unit, maternity and laboratory sections, a nurses’ station, medical store, solar-powered borehole, perimeter fencing, modern sanitation facilities, and solar-powered lighting for 24-hour functionality.
Speaking on behalf of the COAS, Lieutenant General OO Oluyede, Maj Gen Aligbe reiterated the Army’s commitment to civil-military cooperation and grassroots development. “Security goes beyond military presence—it includes improving citizens’ welfare, especially in underserved communities,” he noted.
The Abia State Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, who represented Governor Alex Otti, described the health facility as a “beacon of hope” for residents, improving access to medical care and enhancing maternal and child health.
Also speaking, the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (Army), Major General GU Chibuisi, noted that the community and traditional leaders had warmly embraced the project, acknowledging its potential to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.
The Royal Father of Umuchieze, HRM (Eze) Reuben Oguchi Okwale (JP), Chieze III, expressed deep appreciation to the Nigerian Army, affirming the community’s continued support and partnership with the military.
The commissioning was attended by the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Major General OT Olatoye, other senior military officers, traditional leaders, health officials, and community members. The project is part of a nationwide series of Army-led civil intervention initiatives.
