The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to the welfare of serving and retired personnel while advancing reforms aimed at building a more professional, adaptable, technologically enabled and combat-ready force.
Desk: Defence & Security
Date: 17 September 2026
Time: 14:30 WAT
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Lieutenant General Shaibu stated this on Thursday, 17 September 2026, when members of the Executive Committee of the Course 39 Nigerian Defence Academy United Welfare Association, led by its President, retired Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, paid a courtesy visit to Army Headquarters, Abuja.
A statement issued by Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the COAS described sustained engagement with retired officers and veterans as an important pillar of institutional development, given their operational experience, professional knowledge and leadership expertise.
The Army Chief said continued engagement with veterans strengthens institutional memory, mentorship and continuity while providing useful perspectives for addressing contemporary security challenges.
Underscoring the Army’s responsibility towards personnel beyond active service, Lieutenant General Shaibu pledged ₦25 million to the association’s Emergency Health Fund to support the medical needs of its members.
He stressed that caring for those who have served the nation remains an enduring responsibility and an important component of personnel welfare.
The COAS also outlined ongoing efforts to strengthen the Army’s force structure, manpower, training and operational capabilities, including the expansion to 12 divisions and the integration of 28,000 recruits through regional training depots in Zaria, Osogbo and Amasiri Edda.
He further disclosed that the Army is implementing a revised training curriculum with greater emphasis on marksmanship, physical fitness and fieldcraft to prepare troops for increasingly complex operational environments.
Lieutenant General Shaibu said the Nigerian Army is also transitioning towards multi-domain operations through the integration of space, cyber and non-kinetic capabilities, alongside the development of Army aviation and unmanned aerial systems to improve situational awareness, mobility and responsiveness.
Another initiative highlighted by the COAS was the institutionalisation of the Senior Executive Transition Programme, designed to prepare retiring senior officers and their spouses for post-service life as part of the Army’s broader approach to personnel welfare during and beyond active service.
Earlier, the President of the Course 39 NDA United Welfare Association, retired Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, congratulated Lieutenant General Shaibu on his appointment as COAS and elevation to the rank of Lieutenant General.
He commended ongoing efforts to strengthen the Army’s force structure and operational capabilities while appreciating the institution’s support to the association, particularly in health insurance, emergency assistance and capacity-building programmes.
Air Vice Marshal Daramola assured the COAS that members of Course 39 remained willing to contribute their operational, technical and leadership experience through mentorship, advisory support and specialised expertise in support of Nigerian Army objectives and national security.
🏷️ Tags: Nigerian Army, Waidi Shaibu, Veteran Welfare, NDA Course 39, Troop Welfare, Army Transformation, 28,000 Recruits, Multi-Domain Operations
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