The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to developing indigenous technological capacity and strengthening strategic partnerships to enhance national security and personnel development.
A statement issued by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said Shaibu made the commitment on Friday during a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) in Abuja.
He highlighted the need to develop local expertise in unmanned aerial systems and drone technology to support efforts against terrorism, insurgency and banditry.
The COAS commended PTDF for its longstanding contribution to human-capacity development and requested specialised training for Army personnel to build a pool of skilled professionals in the field.
“This will help us establish indigenous companies for the development of unmanned aerial systems and reduce reliance on foreign military training,” Shaibu said, while also acknowledging PTDF’s continued support for Command Secondary Schools.
The Executive Secretary of PTDF, Professor Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu, commended the Nigerian Army for its sacrifices in safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity and outlined ongoing collaboration under the PTDF In-Country Scholarship Scheme at the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Aliyu also pledged to establish a modern ICT centre for digital-skills training at the proposed Command Science Secondary School in Kaduna.
He further called for the Army’s support in protecting PTDF’s strategic national assets and regional centres of excellence in Kaduna and Afam.
He also advocated a formal security framework between both institutions to facilitate rapid emergency response and safeguard staff, students and infrastructure.
