Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu hosted a Special Easter Luncheon on Saturday for frontline troops of the 1 Division Nigerian Army and Sector 1, Joint Task Force North-West, Operation Fansan Yamma. The event took place at the COAS Special Intervention Battalion, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Afaka in Kaduna. It was designed to recognise the sacrifices of soldiers deployed in counterinsurgency operations across the North-West. The Chief of Army Staff personally interacted with service members, commended their resilience, and praised their commitment to national security. According to military sources, the gesture is part of ongoing efforts to sustain morale among troops operating in high-risk zones. Shaibu described the soldiers as the bedrock of national stability and reaffirmed the army's dedication to their welfare.
A luncheon is not a hazard allowance. While Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu's presence at FOB Afaka may lift spirits temporarily, it does nothing to address the lack of protective gear, delayed rotations, or inadequate medical support that frontline troops face in the North-West. For soldiers battling insurgents daily, a meal is symbolic—what they need are functional logistics and clear operational mandates. Until those are delivered, such events will remain photo opportunities with limited impact.
