COAS unveils Nigerian Army Airborne School, tasks troops on special operations readiness
By: Zagazola Makama
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has unveiled the Nigerian Army Airborne Training School at Jaji Military Cantonment, Kaduna State, with a charge to personnel to attain the highest standards of specialised training and operational readiness.
Shaibu, who unveiled the School on Friday, September 25, 2026, said the establishment of the institution represents a strategic investment in developing highly skilled, agile and mission-ready personnel capable of undertaking complex airborne and special operations.
He said the changing character of warfare and the increasing sophistication of asymmetric threats require a force that is highly trained, adaptable and capable of operating effectively across difficult and diverse operational environments.
According to him, airborne and special operations capabilities are increasingly important to contemporary military operations, particularly in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency and other asymmetric security environments.
The COAS therefore tasked the Commandant and instructors of the new School to develop and continually refine rigorous, operationally relevant training programmes that reflect global best practices while addressing Nigeria’s peculiar security challenges.
He said the School would serve as a centre of excellence for airborne operations, parachuting, air assault and other specialised military skills.
Shaibu explained that the initiative would enhance combat readiness and operational flexibility, while strengthening the Army’s ability to rapidly deploy appropriately trained personnel in support of joint and multi-agency operations.
The Army Chief assured the institution of continued support from Army Headquarters through the provision of necessary infrastructure, equipment and manpower required to fulfil its mandate.
He said the initiative formed part of ongoing efforts to build a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient Nigerian Army capable of effectively discharging its constitutional responsibilities.
Earlier, the Commandant of the Nigerian Army Airborne School, Brig. Gen. Muhammed Sani Usman, said the institution had been upgraded from a wing of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, into a full-fledged school.
Usman explained that the upgrade was driven by the Army’s continuing force-development efforts and the need to strengthen specialised capabilities, particularly those required to complement the operational employment of Nigerian Army Aviation.
The establishment of the School is expected to provide a dedicated institutional framework for developing personnel with specialised airborne capabilities and improving the Army’s capacity to generate forces for rapidly evolving operational requirements.
The event underscores the Army’s broader emphasis on specialised force development as it confronts increasingly complex security challenges requiring speed, mobility, precision and interoperability across conventional and asymmetric operational environments.
