The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has charged the newly established Nigerian Army Airborne Training School to produce highly skilled, agile and mission-ready personnel for complex airborne and special operations.
Shaibu gave the charge on Friday while unveiling the school at Jaji Military Cantonment, Kaduna State.
The statement was signed by Col. Appolonia Anele, Acting Director Army Public Relations.
He described the school as a strategic investment to strengthen rapid deployment of specialised forces, noting that evolving warfare and sophisticated asymmetric threats demand highly trained and adaptable forces.
The COAS said airborne and special operations capabilities remain critical to modern operations, particularly counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency.
He tasked the Commandant and instructors to develop a rigorous, operationally relevant curriculum that reflects global best practices while addressing Nigeria’s peculiar security challenges.
He said the school will serve as a centre of excellence for airborne operations, parachuting, air assault and other specialised skills, to enhance combat readiness and operational flexibility for joint and multi-agency operations.
Shaibu assured the school of Army Headquarters’ support in infrastructure, equipment and manpower, saying the initiative aligns with efforts to build a more professional, combat-ready and resilient Army.
Earlier, the Commandant, Brig.-Gen. Muhammed Sani Usman, said the institution was upgraded from a Wing of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, to a full-fledged school to strengthen specialised capabilities and complement Nigerian Army Aviation.
