COAS Moves to Strengthen Ties with NAFRC, Prioritises Troops’ Welfare and Post-Service Support

By Zainab Uzomah

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has restated the Nigerian Army’s commitment to deepening its strategic partnership with the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Lagos, as part of broader efforts to enhance troops’ welfare and improve post-service reintegration.

According to a statement signed by Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, the pledge was made during a meeting on Tuesday between the COAS and the Commandant of NAFRC, Air Vice Marshal Nnaemeka Ilo, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

During the engagement, Lieutenant General Shaibu emphasised the need to address operational bottlenecks that hinder effective skills acquisition and transition programmes, noting that welfare support must extend beyond active duty to secure long-term stability for personnel.

He congratulated Air Vice Marshal Ilo on his appointment and described NAFRC as a critical institution in preparing service members for life after the military by equipping them with vocational, technical and professional skills essential for economic independence. The COAS said structured resettlement programmes remain a central pillar of the Army’s evolving welfare system.
Lieutenant General Shaibu also commended the Centre’s wide-ranging skills acquisition initiatives, which he described as key to ensuring a smooth and dignified transition from military to civilian life. He acknowledged the significant leadership responsibility involved in managing the welfare and development of the large number of Army personnel currently enrolled in NAFRC programmes.

He reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to strengthening institutional capacity and sustaining reforms that prioritise personnel development. The COAS highlighted the need for improved post-training placement mechanisms, saying many personnel who pass through the Centre possess technical competencies that can be deployed effectively in both public and private sectors. He encouraged NAFRC to deepen partnerships, strengthen data systems and embrace human-resource-driven placement models to improve reintegration outcomes.

Responding, Air Vice Marshal Ilo expressed appreciation for the long-standing cooperation between the Nigerian Army and NAFRC, praising the COAS for his personal commitment to the Centre’s mandate. He noted that a significant number of Army personnel are currently undergoing training at the Centre, reinforcing NAFRC’s role in professional development and post-service empowerment.

The Commandant pledged continued loyalty and assured the COAS of the Centre’s readiness to implement directives aimed at improving welfare and strengthening resettlement programmes.