Army provides free flight for troops going on annual leave

Army provides free flight for troops going on annual leave

Abdullateef Fowewe

In a move to support the troops, the Nigerian Army has offered free flights for soldiers serving in North East Nigeria under Operation HADIN KAI who are going on annual leave.

The development came after a video clip of a soldier expressing his frustration and disappointment for being unable to visit his family due to the transport fare that he said is higher than his salary after spending a year in the bush in Borno State trended in January 2024.

The airlift that took off from Maiduguri Airport was expected to lift the troops to various destinations across the country as it was revealed in a post shared on the Nigerian Army verified X’s (formally Twitter) account on Thursday.

The post read, “Troops serving in North East Nigeria under Operation HADIN KAI proceeding on annual leave from the front lines, being airlifted on Nigerian Army’s chartered Valuelet aircraft from Maiduguri Airport to various destinations across the country under the Chief of Army Staff’s bi-monthly Welfare Flights Initiative.

“Secure, fast and reliable way for the gallant warriors to travel down and reconnect with their families. Nigerian Army, Pride of the Nation.”

However, this shows the Nigerian Army’s commitment to supporting the well-being and morale of its troops. By providing free flights for annual leave, the Army is ensuring that its soldiers can take a much-needed break and reconnect with their families, ultimately contributing to their overall resilience and readiness to serve.