The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged Nigerian Army personnel to improve their marksmanship, weapon-handling skills and combat readiness to meet evolving security challenges.
General Shaibu gave the charge while declaring open the 2026 Nigerian Army Small Arms Championship (NASAC) in Ajilete, Owode, Ogun State.
Represented by the Commander, Training and Doctrine Command, Major General Peter Malla, the army chief described the championship as a platform for assessing soldiers’ proficiency in weapon handling, sharpening their shooting skills and preparing them for effective combat operations.
He said the exercise aligned with operational readiness, a key pillar of his command philosophy, stressing that the effectiveness of a fighting force depended not only on the availability of weapons but also on the competence, confidence and discipline of personnel using them.
“The central purpose of this event directs our attention to an enduring operational reality, that the effectiveness of any fighting force depends not only on the availability of weapons, but also on the competence, confidence and discipline of the personnel who employ them,” he said.
According to him, NASAC reinforces the importance of marksmanship and proficient weapon handling as essential attributes of a combat-ready force.
Shaibu said the championship was expected to produce practical improvements in training standards and operational performance across the army’s various theatres of operation.
He expressed the hope that the competition would enhance weapon handling, fire discipline and troops’ ability to engage targets effectively under demanding conditions.
The COAS also described the championship as an opportunity to evaluate existing training standards, identify areas requiring improvement and promote healthy competition, teamwork and camaraderie among formations and personnel.
He urged participants to look beyond the pursuit of trophies and focus on the lessons that could strengthen their professional competence and operational effectiveness.
The army chief noted that operational plans could only achieve their objectives when personnel possessed the requisite skills, confidence and discipline to use their weapons accurately and decisively.
He added that marksmanship went beyond competitive shooting to become a critical component of combat power, contributing to effective engagements, preservation of fighting strength and mission success.
Shaibu further stressed the need for continuous improvement in training methods, shooting techniques and weapon-handling standards in response to Nigeria’s evolving security environment and growing asymmetric threats.
Earlier, the Chief of Training (Army), Major General Valentine Okoro, reaffirmed the Department of Army Training’s commitment to developing and implementing realistic training programmes across Nigerian Army formations.
Okoro said the focus on practical training remained essential to preparing personnel for the demands of contemporary military operations.
More than 500 officers and soldiers are participating in the 2026 championship.
The participating formations include the 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 81 and 82 Divisions; 4 Special Forces Command; Army Headquarters Garrison; and the Nigerian Army Women Command.
The championship is expected to provide a competitive platform for evaluating personnel proficiency while strengthening professional standards and operational preparedness across the Nigerian Army.
