The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged the newly established Nigerian Army Airborne School to produce highly skilled, agile and mission-ready personnel capable of conducting complex airborne and special operations in response to emerging security threats.
Speaking during the unveiling of the school at the Jaji Military Cantonment in Kaduna State on Friday, Lieutenant General Shaibu described the institution as a strategic investment in capability development aimed at strengthening the Nigerian Army’s capacity to rapidly deploy specialised forces for demanding operations.
He said the evolving nature of warfare and the growing sophistication of asymmetric threats require troops who are well-trained, adaptable and capable of operating effectively in diverse and challenging environments.
According to the COAS, airborne and special operations capabilities remain essential in modern military engagements, particularly in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency and other asymmetric warfare situations.
He therefore tasked the commandant and instructors of the school to maintain a rigorous and operationally relevant training curriculum that reflects global best practices while addressing Nigeria’s unique security realities.
Lieutenant General Shaibu said the school would serve as a centre of excellence for airborne operations, parachuting, air assault and other specialised military skills, adding that it would enhance combat readiness, operational flexibility and the Army’s ability to project trained forces in support of joint and multi-agency operations.
He assured the institution of continued support from Army Headquarters through the provision of infrastructure, equipment and manpower needed to fulfil its mandate, noting that the initiative aligns with efforts to build a more professional, adaptable and combat-ready Nigerian Army.
Earlier, the Commandant of the Nigerian Army Airborne School, Brigadier General Muhammed Sani Usman, said the institution was upgraded from a wing of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, to a full-fledged school.
He explained that the upgrade was driven by the Army’s force development programme and the need to strengthen specialised capabilities, particularly those required to support the operational deployment of Nigerian Army Aviation.
