The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has charged personnel of the newly established Nigerian Army Airborne Training School to develop the specialised skills required to execute complex airborne and special operations amid evolving security threats.
Shaibu gave the charge on Friday while unveiling the Nigerian Army Airborne School at Jaji Military Cantonment, Kaduna State.
The Army chief described the establishment of the institution as a strategic investment in specialised military capabilities, saying it would strengthen the Army’s ability to rapidly deploy specially trained personnel for demanding operations.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, Shaibu said the changing nature of warfare and the growing sophistication of asymmetric threats required troops who were highly trained, adaptable and capable of operating effectively in difficult environments.
He said airborne and special operations capabilities remained essential to contemporary military operations, particularly in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency and other asymmetric security situations.
The COAS therefore tasked the Commandant and instructors of the new school with developing a rigorous and operationally relevant training programme that incorporates global best practices while addressing Nigeria’s peculiar security challenges.
“The changing character of warfare and increasing sophistication of asymmetric threats require forces that are highly trained, adaptable and capable of operating effectively across diverse and challenging environments,” Shaibu said.
He said the school would serve as a centre of excellence for airborne operations, parachuting, air assault and other specialised military skills.
According to him, the institution would improve the Army’s combat readiness and operational flexibility while strengthening its ability to rapidly deploy appropriately trained personnel for joint and multi-agency operations.
Shaibu assured the school of the continued support of Army Headquarters through the provision of the necessary infrastructure, equipment and manpower to enable it to effectively perform its mandate.
He said the initiative was part of ongoing efforts to build a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient Nigerian Army capable of effectively carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.
Earlier, the Commandant of the Nigerian Army Airborne School, Brig. Gen. Muhammed Sani Usman, said the institution had been upgraded from a wing of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, to a full-fledged school.
Usman explained that the upgrade was driven by the Army’s ongoing force development efforts and the need to strengthen specialised capabilities, particularly those required to support the operational employment of Nigerian Army Aviation.
The establishment of the school is expected to provide a dedicated platform for the training and development of personnel in airborne and other specialised military operations as the Nigerian Army expands its operational capabilities.
