The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged officers and soldiers graduating from Exercise Restore Hope IX to convert their intensive training into decisive operational victories as they deploy across Nigeria’s various theatres to confront evolving security challenges.
Zig Diaries Defence
Date: Friday, 23 January 2026
Time: 13:40 WAT
Location: 📍 Kachia, Kaduna State, Nigeria
According to a statement by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the COAS gave the charge during the Final Exercise and Graduation Ceremony held at the Nigerian Army Training Camp, Kachia, Kaduna State.
Addressing the graduates, Lieutenant General Shaibu underscored that modern warfare demands combat excellence, discipline, adaptability and teamwork, stressing that training must reflect the realities of the battlefield.
“Translate your training into victory wherever you are deployed. Combat excellence, discipline and teamwork are no longer optional, they are requirements for success in today’s operational environment.”
He described Exercise Restore Hope as a key pillar of the Nigerian Army’s transformation agenda, aimed at building a professional, resilient and mission-oriented force capable of operating effectively within joint and multi-agency settings.
The COAS noted that the advanced infantry training had enhanced the graduates’ marksmanship, physical endurance, combat medical skills and mental resilience required for sustained high-tempo operations.
“Battlefield success must always be anchored on professionalism, respect for human rights and accountability. Ethical conduct is essential to maintaining public confidence and operational legitimacy.”
Lieutenant General Shaibu commended the instructors and training establishments for maintaining high standards, adding that graduates of previous editions of Exercise Restore Hope have continued to distinguish themselves across multiple theatres of operation.
Earlier, the Chief of Training (Army), Major General Valentine U. Okoro, said Exercise Restore Hope, now in its ninth series, remains one of the Nigerian Army’s most critical post-basic training platforms for sharpening combat skills, building resilience and preparing soldiers for contemporary operational realities.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the COAS formally declared Exercise Restore Hope IX closed, congratulated the graduating officers and soldiers, and approved the immediate promotion and decoration of seven soldiers who distinguished themselves as instructors during the exercise.
🏷️ Tags: Nigerian Army, COAS, Exercise Restore Hope IX, Military Training, Combat Readiness, Kaduna State
#ZigDiariesDefence #NigerianArmy #COAS #RestoreHopeIX #CombatReadiness
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