The Nigerian Army has linked its latest advanced infantry training to the expansion of its force structure, with newly trained soldiers expected to form the core personnel of additional divisions, formations and units established to strengthen the military’s response to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, stated this at the graduation ceremony of Exercise RESTORE HOPE X, the Advanced Infantry Training Programme, held at the Nigerian Army Training Centre, Kachia, Kaduna State.
A statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the training forms part of the Army’s efforts to ensure that force expansion is matched by professional competence, tactical confidence and the ability to operate effectively in increasingly complex operational environments.
Addressing the graduands, Lieutenant General Shaibu said many of them would form the nucleus of the newly established formations and therefore bear the responsibility of translating the Army’s expansion into enhanced operational capability.
He urged the soldiers to uphold professionalism, exercise sound judgement, maintain discipline and remain mission-focused, while also encouraging them to stay physically fit, technologically proficient and adaptable to emerging security threats.
The COAS also stressed the importance of respecting the rule of law, protecting human rights and complying with the rules of engagement, noting that the Army’s expanding operational footprint must be matched by higher professional standards across its ranks.
He credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the restructuring and for his continued support for the Army’s operational, training and administrative requirements, stressing that realistic, mission-oriented training remains essential to building a force capable of delivering decisive results across Nigeria’s various theatres of operation.
Earlier, the Chief of Training (Army), Major General Valentine Okoro, described Exercise RESTORE HOPE X as a key component of the Army’s post-basic infantry training system.
According to him, the programme exposed participants to tactical operations, marksmanship, field craft, combat endurance, leadership development and counter-insurgency scenarios, while promoting standardisation across the Army’s training institutions.
The Army said the graduation highlights the direct link between force expansion and combat effectiveness, noting that while new formations increase operational reach, their success ultimately depends on personnel who possess the training, discipline and adaptability required to address Nigeria’s changing security environment.
