The Nigerian Army headed by the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, General Faruk Yahaya has charged his troops to ensure the skills they have learnt and the knowledge gained from the trainings / operations’ conduct of the Nigerian Army are put to judicious and effective use to help actualized the National Security Objectives for the Country.
Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, of the Nigerian Army in a statement he personally signed and made available to pressmen on Thursday, said the COAS, General Yahaya has handed down the above directive reached on the 18 May, 2023, during the graduation ceremony of the officers and soldiers trained in the Exercise Restore Hope IV which was held at the Nigerian Army Training Centre, Kachia in Kaduna State.
The training of the officers which began on the 25th of January 2023, had troops drawn from various formations and units, who have been undergoing rigorous training and drills in marksmanship, unarmed battle drills and other advanced Special Forces training.
The well attended ceremony showcased series of shooting and tactical drills to demonstrate newly acquired combat prowess of the graduands.
Speaking further at the event, the COAS expressed delight for the successful conduct of the training for the first time by the Nigerian Army Training Team, adding that the first to third series of Exercise Restore Hope were conducted by foreign partners, while the fourth series was solely conducted by the NA Training Team with the advisory of the foreign partners.
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General Yahaya, who pointed out that training is pivotal to his philosophy of command, stated that the Exercise Restore Hope training series provide the platform for the Nigerian Army to sustain its efforts to adequately prepare the troops for operations in a complex and dynamic security environment.
He noted that judging from the numerous benefits and impact of the Exercise, the series of training will be sustained in the Nigerian Army. He disclosed that preparations are almost completed for the Exercise Restore Hope V, with the bulk of its troops coming from young soldiers who recently passed out from the Depot of the Nigerian Army. He pledged that under his watch, training will be accorded its prime of place in the Army.
The Army Chief seized the opportunity to express appreciation to the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari for his strategic guidance, untiring support and encouragement to the Nigerian Army.
General Yahaya reassured the nation of the unalloyed loyalty of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army to the President and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The ceremony had in attendance, the Commandant Nigerian Defence Academy, Principal Staff Officers of the Army Headquarters, Commander Infantry Corps, General Officers Commanding 1 and 3 Divisions, representatives of security agencies in Kachia, the Chairman Kachia Local Government, the Agom Kachia and senior officers both serving and retired.
The event was climaxed with the presentation of souvenirs to special guests and the training team.