By Editor
Worried by the pitiable condition of many serving Nigerian military officers, a concerned Nigerian, simply identified as- Ejeh Attah Udang aka Ejeh Dagogo has embarked on a one-man show of solidarity to the plight of suffering members of the Nigerian armed forces seeking an urgent government intervention.
Dagogo however chose a rather weird way of civil protest by embarking on a tortuous cross- country journey by foot soliciting support for better welfare for the nation’s military officers.
According to the 42 year-old Benue State-born activist, he was motivated by an ugly incident recently when a soldier who had been in the forest fighting Boko Haram for over four years could not afford to pay his transport fare because the salary for the month could not take him home.
He therefore, left his Lagos home early last year and embarked on the tour of the South West heading to the FCT in an expedition which he tagged ‘#thankAsoldier’ where he trekked all the five states before making a detour to Edo, Kogi and finally ending at the FCT- a journey of over 800 kilometers.
The DG Bureau of Touurism Development, Barr. Wale Ojo-Lanre who received him in his office during his first expedition last year, applauded his doggedness and love for humanity adding that he was contributing his little quota not only to the unity of the country but as a tourist ambassador.
Not done, the adventurous ‘traveller’ on December 16, 2025 embarked on the second phase of the journey #thankAsoldier-2.0 from ABUJA, the Federal capital to cover all the North Central States another 809 kilometers.
In a chat with our correspondent on Wednesday from Otukpo, Dagogo dropped the hint that the second expedition will take him from the FCT through the north Central states to end in Lagos, Nasarawa State.
He said; “The objective of this expedition is to seek the support of traditional rulers Armed Forces Transport Fund Establishment Bill, a bill I initiated.
“So far, I’ve visited the Sarki Garlic, Emir of Suleja, Etsu of Nupe, Emir of Ilorin and the Ata Igala to be followed by the Ochi’idoma, Gwongwom Jos and the Emir of Lafia in that order”
However, the dogged fighter has recorded a major success in his agitation for improved welfare of the Nigerian soldiers as he has put the matter before the National Assembly.
According to him; “The bill which is sponsored by Hon Philip Agbese MHR Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu and co sponsored by some of his colleagues in the Federal House of Representatives, will bring a huge relief to the transportation shortcomings members of the armed forces face in the discharge of their duties and eradicate the kind of embarrassing situation we found ourselves last year when a soldier who has been fighting boko haram for over four years could not afford to pay his transport fare home because his salary for the month was not enough to cover cost of transportation from his area of responsibility to his home town and back. He had to go back to the trenches, a scenario that could have adverse effect on his mental health and overall morale as a soldier.” He said.
On the impact of the proposed Bill, Dagogo added: “When the Bill is passed, it will give members of the armed forces access to free intra-city and 50% discount inter-city public transportation across the federation”
