Army Prioritising Technology, Advanced Training for Modern Warfare — COAS
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Waidi Shaibu, has stressed that advanced training and technology-driven operations remain critical to the success of the Nigerian Army in confronting evolving security threats across the country.
Speaking on Thursday at the closing ceremony of the Combat Arms Training (CAT) Week 2026 at Jaji Military Cantonment, the COAS said modern warfare increasingly requires highly trained, disciplined and adaptable personnel capable of operating effectively in complex combat environments.
The week-long training programme brought together serving and retired senior military officers for strategic engagements, lectures and practical demonstrations aimed at strengthening the Army’s capacity in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations.
The event, themed “Building Troops’ Resilience through Counter Terrorism Campaigns,” focused on emerging threats, contemporary warfare dynamics and the need to build resilient and technologically proficient troops.
Lt.-Gen. Shaibu charged personnel of the Nigerian Army to remain resilient, cohesive and combat-ready in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities, noting that operational success in today’s battlespace depends not only on modern equipment but also on continuous professional development and innovation.
He identified drone warfare, combat aviation and advanced training methodologies as critical force multipliers for future military operations, adding that the Nigerian Army would continue to leverage technology to improve operational effectiveness nationwide.
In his remarks, the Commander Infantry Corps, Godwin Mutkut, commended the COAS for what he described as purposeful leadership that has improved troop welfare and enhanced operational efficiency across the Army.
The training exercise featured live-fire demonstrations involving various calibres of weapons, armoured vehicles and advanced combat platforms, alongside combined Infantry and Armour manoeuvre simulations conducted in a realistic combat environment.
A symbolic Pulling Out Ceremony was also held in honour of distinguished retired Infantry generals during the event.
The Combat Arms Training Week 2026 reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening professional capacity through advanced training, integrating modern technologies into military operations and sustaining ongoing counterterrorism campaigns across the country.
By TimesNG