AHQ Validation Team Assesses NIGCOY 10 ECOMIG, Reaffirms Commitment to Operational Excellence in The Gambia.
By Raymond Enoch.
A high-level delegation from the Nigerian Army Headquarters (AHQ) Validation Team paid a crucial operational assessment visit to NIGCOY 10 ECOMIG Base Camp in Yundum, The Gambia, on Tuesday, 2 September 2025.
The four-man team, led by Colonel OO Olusanya, arrived with a clear mandate: to evaluate the combat readiness, operational activities, and overall compliance of NIGCOY 10 troops with the mission’s objectives under the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG).
Speaking during the visit, Col Olusanya lauded the leadership of the Contingent Commander, Lieutenant Colonel SA Agada, and commended the troops for their dedication and professionalism. He emphasized the importance of discipline, vigilance, and resilience, while cautioning troops against acts that could tarnish Nigeria’s image—particularly Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA).
The AHQ Team Leader also took the opportunity to interact directly with the soldiers in a candid heart-to-heart session, during which he echoed the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede’s leadership philosophy. Col Olusanya assured the troops that their concerns and challenges would be conveyed to the appropriate quarters for necessary action.
As part of the visit, Lt Col Agada led the team on a comprehensive tour of the Base Camp and presented a detailed operational briefing, outlining NIGCOY 10’s successes and challenges in the field. He affirmed the contingent’s commitment to maintaining the current operational tempo and to safeguarding lives and property in line with the ECOMIG mandate.
The AHQ team was also received at the ECOMIG Force Headquarters by Force Commander Colonel Ndiagne Diouf, who welcomed the delegation and stressed the importance of such visits in enhancing situational awareness and operational coordination. The team further interacted with Deputy Force Commander Colonel KH Okeniyi and other senior staff officers.
In a diplomatic dimension of the visit, the delegation met with the ECOWAS Special Representative and Head of Mission in The Gambia, Her Excellency Madam Miatta Lily French, who applauded the Nigerian contingent’s unwavering commitment to peacekeeping in the region. The team also held discussions with Nigeria’s High Commissioner to The Gambia, Ambassador Mohammed Manu, reinforcing bilateral cooperation and national support for the mission.
The visit underscores Nigeria’s steadfast resolve to uphold professionalism, accountability, and mission effectiveness in regional peace operations.
