The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has inaugurated the Combat Support Arms Training (COSAT) Week 2024 holding at the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering in Makurdi, the Capital of Benue State in North Central Nigeria.
Lt. Gen. Lagbaja at the occasion emphasized the importance of robust support for Combat Arms in the Nigerian Army, in the face of today’s complex and unpredictable operating environment.
The COAS said that the Nigerian Army could boast of a highly efficient, competent, adaptive and resourceful combat support corps that have contributed immensely to its operational successes within and outside the country.
Lt. General Lagbaja commended the highly efficient Combat Support Corps for their contributions to operational success.
He said, “to help attain our strategic plan to significantly improve our equipment serviceability, operational efficiency and effectiveness, we believe this is the way to go and we are fortunate to have a government that is supporting our ideas.“
Highlighting the roles of the Combat Support Arms, General Lagbaja praised the Corps of Artillery for fire support, the Engineers for aiding troops in operations, the Signals for providing communication, and the Intelligence Corps for gathering intelligence useful for military combat operations.
He emphasized the need for continuous training and research to keep up with changes in modern warfare.
The Chief of Army Staff reiterated his commitment to transforming the Nigerian Army into a well-trained and equipped force even as he thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the Army’s equipment upgrade plans.
“The commitment of the President and government to supporting the Nigerian Army in equipment upgrade and acquisition is commendable, and the emphasis on developing highly skilled and competent change managers is essential for confronting security challenges effectively.“
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, who was Special Guest at the occasion, praised the military for their sacrifices and expressed support for their efforts to improve security.
Governor Alia expressed a firm belief that the event was yet another step in the right direction towards their collective resolve to leverage emerging technologies towards enhancing the conduct of military operations.
“The adoption of new technologies through collaborative research and development will help in defeating the menace of bad and non-state actors currently terrorizing many parts of the country.“
Governor Alia also promised to identify with the Combat Support Arms of the Nigerian Army, other relevant Stakeholders and partner organizations to discuss and fashion out better ways of improving military operations towards a more secure and economically viable nation.
In his keynote address, Professor Abiodun Musa Aibinu emphasized the use of emerging technologies to enhance combat support for the Nigerian Army.
On his part, the Commander, Corps of Engineers, Major General Philip Eromosele discussed how the COSAT aims to improve operational efficiency through the application of new technologies.
He said, in today’s complex and unpredictable operational environment, combat arms require robust and reliable support to function effectively and achieve military strategic, operational and tactical objectives.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Abdulaziz Yar’ Adua and Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Army, Hon. David Ogewu as well as stakeholders in science, technology, and research development along with important government functionaries were amongst other top functionaries who graced the occasion.
