Army Chief Urges Newly Trained Troops to Convert Skills Into Battlefield Success

By Zainab Uzomah

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has urged officers and soldiers who have completed Exercise Restore Hope IX to convert their newly acquired skills into operational victories as they deploy to conflict zones across the country. The appeal came during the final exercise and graduation ceremony held at the Nigerian Army Training Camp in Kachia, Kaduna State.

In a statement issued by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the Army Chief said discipline, adaptability, teamwork and combat excellence were critical requirements for success in modern warfare. He described Exercise Restore Hope as a key element of the Nigerian Army’s transformation plan, aimed at producing a more professional and mission-ready force capable of operating effectively in joint and multi-agency environments.

Lieutenant General Shaibu noted that the advanced infantry training had strengthened the graduates’ marksmanship, physical endurance, combat medical expertise and mental resilience, all of which are essential for high-tempo operations. He stressed that operational success must be grounded in professionalism and respect for human rights, saying ethical conduct remained vital for maintaining public trust and operational legitimacy.

The Army Chief commended instructors for sustaining high training standards and said past participants of the programme had continued to excel in various theatres of operation. Earlier, the Chief of Training (Army), Major General V.U. Okoro, described the programme as one of the Army’s most important post-basic training platforms. Lieutenant General Shaibu later declared Exercise Restore Hope IX closed and approved the immediate promotion of seven outstanding instructors.