The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has charged soldiers graduating from the Advanced Infantry Training Programme, Exercise RESTORE HOPE X, to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and operational excellence as they prepare for deployment to the Nigerian Army’s newly established divisions, formations and units.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony held on Friday at the Nigerian Army Training Centre, Kachia, Kaduna State, Shaibu described the programme as the flagship of the Army’s post-basic infantry training framework, designed to enhance combat proficiency, strengthen the warrior ethos and prepare personnel for modern military operations.
The Army Chief said the graduation coincided with the ongoing restructuring and expansion of the Nigerian Army following President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the establishment of additional divisions, formations and units to strengthen force deployment and improve responses to the country’s evolving security challenges.
He noted that many of the graduating soldiers would form the nucleus of the newly created formations and urged them to justify the investment in their training through professionalism, sound judgment and unwavering commitment to mission success.
Shaibu also advised the soldiers to remain physically fit, mentally agile and technologically proficient while adapting to emerging security threats, embracing innovation and strictly observing the rule of law, human rights and the military’s rules of engagement during operations.
He commended President Tinubu for his continued support for the Army’s operational, training and administrative needs, describing the President’s strategic leadership and sustained investment as critical to the ongoing transformation and expansion of the Nigerian Army.
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Earlier, the Chief of Training (Army), Maj.-Gen. Valentine Okoro, described Exercise RESTORE HOPE X as a critical component of the Army’s training architecture that has consistently produced highly motivated and combat-ready soldiers.
According to him, the programme exposed participants to realistic operational scenarios, tactical operations, marksmanship, field craft, combat endurance, leadership development and counter-insurgency operations, significantly improving their confidence, decision-making ability and battlefield competence.
Okoro added that the exercise has also strengthened the Army’s institutional capacity by standardising post-basic infantry training, improving instructional methods and promoting continuous improvement across its training establishments.
The statement was signed by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, on Friday, August 7, 2026.
