Nigerian Army set to boost air support with helicopter acquisition
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has announced that the Army is reactivating its Air Wing to enhance operations and alleviate the pressure on the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
Lt.-Gen. Lagbaja made this announcement while addressing participants of Senior Course 46 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) in Jaji on Tuesday.
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The lecture, centered on the COAS’ Command Philosophy and Nigeria’s contemporary and emerging security environment, shed light on the Nigerian Army’s plan to acquire helicopters to support troops during patrols and operations, ensuring dominance over adversaries.
This move will enable the NAF to concentrate on delivering high operational and strategic requirements.
Lt.-Gen. Lagbaja emphasized the importance of the Air Wing in handling tactical requirements such as air interdictions.
However, he underlined the continued collaboration between the Army and NAF in addressing the country’s security challenges.
He explained that it’s a global military practice for the Army to possess integral helicopters while entrusting strategic demands to the Air Force.
The acquisition of helicopters and other platforms will establish organic helicopter formations and units in the field, ensuring that troops have air support during patrols.
These helicopters will provide intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance reports, and air interdiction capabilities. For large-scale strategic offensives, the NAF will remain the primary resource.
Regarding his command philosophy, COAS Lagbaja shared that conveying his ideas and thoughts to the college’s students would align them with the strategic thinking of the Army Headquarters.
He emphasized the need to transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped, and highly motivated force. This transformation is essential for fulfilling the Army’s constitutional responsibilities through collaborative efforts within and among different services.
“As I focus on improving training, operational readiness, leadership effectiveness, and administration for the troops, commanders at all levels should adopt similar thinking. By doing so, we can collectively build a stronger Nigerian Army,” Lagbaja concluded.
The Commandant of AFCSC, AVM Hassan Alhaji, expressed gratitude to COAS Lagbaja for delivering the lecture in person. He believed that the COAS’s insights would guide the officers in aligning with the direction he is taking the Nigerian Army.
AVM Alhaji encouraged the officers to embrace the leadership qualities advocated by the COAS, thereby enhancing their command capabilities and effectiveness in carrying out their assigned tasks.
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