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By Philip Nwosu
The Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration (NASFA), Apapa, Lagos, has taken steps to address environmental and health concerns around its facilities as students of the Third Quarter Courses 2026 carried out a sanitation exercise at a canal running through the institution.
The exercise, which extended beyond the school’s regular sanitation activities, focused particularly on Canal 5, where accumulated debris, weeds and water hyacinth had obstructed parts of the waterway.
The Commandant of NASFA, Brigadier General John Bulus, said the initiative was prompted by concerns over the potential health and environmental hazards posed by the condition of the canal, which passes close to students’ hostels and the cafeteria.
Bulus said stagnant water and accumulated waste around the canal could create an unhealthy environment, including conditions conducive to mosquito breeding, foul odour and the presence of reptiles.
He said the exercise was therefore aimed at reducing the immediate risks while providing a healthier environment for students preparing to resume for the Fourth Quarter Courses in October.
According to him, the students began the exercise from their classrooms and hostels before moving to the canal.
“This exercise is generally to keep NASFA clean and assist the students that will be coming for the Fourth Quarter Courses to help improve the health situation and create a conducive atmosphere for learning,” Bulus said.
The Commandant commended the outgoing students for taking part in the exercise despite the fact that they would be leaving the institution and would not be the direct beneficiaries of the cleaner environment.
“Even though they might not be the beneficiaries of this exercise because they are already leaving, they have done it for the incoming students that will be resuming in October,” he said.
Bulus explained that sanitation was conducted at NASFA on a quarterly basis, but the latest exercise was expanded to cover the canal because of its proximity to the students’ accommodation and other facilities.
While commending the students for the intervention, Bulus stressed that the comprehensive cleaning of the canal required the involvement of the appropriate local government authorities.
He noted that the waterway extended over a long distance from Surulere towards the lagoon, meaning that cleaning only the portion within NASFA could provide temporary relief rather than a permanent solution.
“What we have done here today is just a minor remedy to clean the canal because it needs to be done from the beginning of the canal to the end where it terminates into the lagoon,” he said.
The Commandant said a comprehensive clearing of the canal would be necessary to prevent debris and vegetation from accumulating again and to improve the flow of water along the entire stretch.
He also linked the sanitation initiative to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu’s, emphasis on sound administration and the welfare of personnel and students within Army establishments.
Bulus thanked the Army Chief for approving funds required for the effective administration of NASFA and supporting the institution’s needs.
He also expressed appreciation to the Chief of Accounts and Budget, Army, Major General Taofik Sidick, for his continued support for the sanitation initiative and other activities at the school.
The exercise, according to the Commandant, underscores the importance of maintaining a clean and healthy environment within military training institutions, particularly where environmental conditions could affect the wellbeing and learning of personnel undergoing professional courses.
