The visit opened with grief, but it closed with resolve.
By Joy Odor Reportcircle News
Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Thursday paid a condolence visit to Bayelsa State following the death of Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, using the moment to both honour a fallen public servant and reinforce a growing security partnership between the Nigerian Army and the oil-producing state.
Ewhrudjakpo, who died in December 2025, was described by the Army Chief as a national loss whose passing extends beyond Bayelsa’s borders.
Shaibu urged prayers and continued support for the bereaved family, noting that the vacuum left by the late deputy governor would be deeply felt across governance and public life.
The remarks were made during a courtesy call on Governor Douye Diri at the Government House in Yenagoa, a key stop in Shaibu’s maiden operational tour of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division Area of Responsibility, which includes Bayelsa State.
Security partnership in focus
Beyond condolences, the engagement quickly turned strategic.
The COAS commended the Bayelsa State Government for what he described as sustained and practical support to Nigerian Army formations in the state, particularly 16 Brigade.
Such backing, he said, remains critical to troop welfare, operational effectiveness, and the maintenance of peace in a region of strategic economic importance.
Shaibu singled out Governor Diri for personally driving the construction and donation of new residential facilities for soldiers, an intervention he described as both timely and impactful.
The facilities include nine units of three-bedroom quarters for Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) and two blocks comprising nine units of two-bedroom apartments for Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs).
According to the Army Chief, the additional housing will significantly ease accommodation pressures, lift morale, and sharpen operational efficiency within the Brigade.
The Army Chief also noted visible infrastructural improvements across Bayelsa State since his last visit nearly five years ago, describing the transformation as supportive of both civilian life and military operations.
He assured the governor of the Nigerian Army’s continued collaboration with the state government in preserving peace, security, and stability, stressing that civil–military synergy remains essential in today’s complex security environment.
In his response, Governor Diri thanked the COAS for the visit and reaffirmed Bayelsa’s unwavering support for the Nigerian Army and other security agencies deployed in the state.
He praised the Armed Forces for their sacrifices in protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity, adding that sustained cooperation between the military, other security agencies, and the state government has played a decisive role in maintaining relative peace and stability in Bayelsa.
The Governor formally handed over the newly completed accommodation facilities to the Nigerian Army and pledged continued commitment to improving the welfare of troops operating within the state.
The visit, officials said, further strengthened civil–military relations between the Nigerian Army and the Bayelsa State Government, reinforcing a partnership aimed at sustaining security and boosting operational effectiveness across the 6 Division Area of Responsibility.
In Yenagoa, condolences met concrete action—turning loss into resolve and remembrance into renewed commitment.
