The Nigerian Army has created additional divisions, formations and units as part of efforts to strengthen its response to the country’s growing security challenges.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, disclosed this on Friday at the graduation ceremony of soldiers who completed the Advanced Infantry Training Programme, known as Exercise RESTORE HOPE X, at the Nigerian Army Training Centre, Kachia, Kaduna State.
Shaibu said the restructuring and expansion of the Army received approval from President Bola Tinubu, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
He explained that the newly trained soldiers would play a major role in the new formations and units established under the restructuring programme.
He said, “Following the approval of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the restructuring of the Nigerian Army, additional divisions, formations and units have been established to optimise force disposition and improve operational responsiveness to the nation’s evolving security threats.”
According to him, “Many of the graduating soldiers will constitute the nucleus of these new formations and are expected to translate their training into operational effectiveness.”
The Army chief urged the soldiers to maintain high standards of discipline and professionalism as they assume their new assignments.
Shaibu also tasked them with remaining physically fit, mentally prepared and familiar with emerging technologies, while respecting human rights and the rules governing military engagements.
He said, “Remain physically fit, mentally agile and technologically proficient. Continually adapt to emerging threats, embrace innovation and uphold the highest standards of discipline, respect for the rule of law, protection of human rights and strict compliance with the rules of engagement throughout your careers.”
The Army chief described Exercise RESTORE HOPE X as a major component of the service’s post-basic infantry training programme.
He said the exercise was designed to improve soldiers’ combat skills, strengthen their military ethos and prepare them for the demands of modern warfare.
Shaibu further commended the President for supporting the Army’s operational, training and administrative activities, saying the support had contributed to the service’s ongoing expansion and transformation.
“The President’s strategic guidance and continued investment have been instrumental to the Service’s ongoing transformation and force expansion,” he said.
Earlier, the Chief of Training (Army), Major General Valentine Okoro, described the training programme as an important part of the Army’s efforts to produce highly motivated and operationally ready personnel.
Okoro said participants were trained in areas including tactical operations, marksmanship, field craft, combat endurance, leadership and counter-insurgency operations.
He added that the programme had also improved the Army’s institutional capacity by strengthening post-basic infantry training and encouraging continuous improvement across its training institutions.
“The exercise has strengthened institutional capacity by standardising post-basic infantry training, refining instructional methodologies and promoting continuous improvement across the Nigerian Army’s training establishments,” Okoro said.
The graduation is part of the Army’s broader efforts to improve combat readiness through specialised training, organisational expansion and enhanced operational capacity.
