COAS Shaibu Deepens Engagement With Veterans, Insists On Commitment To Troop Welfare

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Army to the welfare of serving and retired personnel, while advancing ongoing reforms aimed at building a more professional, adaptable, technologically enabled and combat-ready force.

The COAS stated this on Thursday, 17 September 2026, when he received members of the Executive Committee of the Course 39 Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) United Welfare Association (UWA), led by its President, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola (Rtd), on a courtesy visit to Army Headquarters, Abuja.

Lieutenant General Shaibu described sustained engagement with retired officers and veterans as an important pillar of institutional development, noting that their wealth of operational experience, professional knowledge and leadership expertise remains valuable to the Nigerian Army. He added that such engagements strengthen institutional memory, mentorship and continuity while providing useful perspectives for addressing contemporary security challenges.

Underscoring the Army’s commitment to the welfare of its personnel beyond active service, the COAS 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 Army Chief also highlighted ongoing initiatives to strengthen the force structure, manpower, training and operational capabilities of the Nigerian Army. He noted the expansion of the Army to 12 divisions and the integration of 28,000 recruits through regional training depots in Zaria, Osogbo and Amasiri Edda as part of efforts to enhance operational reach and responsiveness across the country.

He further disclosed that the Army is implementing a revised training curriculum with greater emphasis on marksmanship, physical fitness and fieldcraft to produce troops capable of operating effectively in increasingly complex security environments.

According to the COAS, the Nigerian Army is equally advancing its transition towards multi-domain operations through the integration of space, cyber and non-kinetic capabilities, alongside the development of Army aviation and unmanned aerial systems. These initiatives, he explained, are intended to enhance situational awareness, operational mobility and responsiveness to emerging threats.

Lieutenant General Shaibu also highlighted the institutionalisation of the Senior Executive Transition Programme, designed to better prepare retiring senior officers and their spouses for post-service life, describing it as part of a broader effort to strengthen personnel welfare throughout and beyond military service.

Earlier, the President of the Course 39 NDA United Welfare Association, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola (Rtd), congratulated Lieutenant General Shaibu on his appointment as Chief of Army Staff and elevation to the rank of Lieutenant General. He commended the COAS for ongoing efforts to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s force structure and operational capabilities across the country, while expressing appreciation for the Army’s support to the association, particularly in the areas of health insurance, emergency assistance and capacity-building programmes.

Air Vice Marshal Daramola assured the COAS that members of Course 39 remain willing to contribute their extensive operational, technical and leadership experience through mentorship, advisory support and specialised expertise in furtherance of the Nigerian Army’s objectives and national security.

Credit: Appolonia Anele,
Colonel, Acting Director Army Public Relations – 17 September 2026