The Nigerian Army has reiterated the need for intensified training to enhance operational effectiveness and sustain battlefield readiness across all formations.
The Director, Support Services, Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Isiaka Olatunji, stated this on Monday in Abuja at the opening of the 2026 Guards Brigade Corporals and Below Competition.
Olatunji stressed that training remains the backbone of military efficiency, noting that no army can succeed in contemporary security operations without continuous skill development and rigorous field exercises.
He explained that the competition was designed to test the physical, mental, and tactical proficiency of junior soldiers who constitute the backbone of operational execution in the Nigerian Army.
“We must train harder to ensure operational effectiveness. Training is not optional; it is essential for survival and success on the battlefield,” he said.
According to him, corporals and below are the category of personnel who directly execute missions in the field, often in close contact with adversaries.
“You are the ones who execute missions. You come face to face with the enemy at the tactical level,” he added.
Olatunji noted that the exercise would strengthen resilience, discipline, teamwork, and combat readiness among participating troops.
He described the Guards Brigade, which has both ceremonial and operational responsibilities in the Federal Capital Territory, as a critical formation in the nation’s defence architecture.
The director urged participants to fully embrace the training opportunity, saying excellence is a product of continuous challenge and discipline.
He also charged them to uphold professionalism and demonstrate a high level of competence throughout the exercise.
In his remarks, the Commander of Guards Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Adebisi Onasanya, said the competition aligns with the Chief of Army Staff’s vision of building a more adaptive, resilient, and combat-ready force.
Onasanya said the exercise would assess weapon handling skills, physical fitness, and decision-making abilities of participants, adding that its outcome would significantly contribute to determining troop readiness for operational deployments.
The annual Guards Brigade Corporals and Below Competition brings together units for intensive drills and tactical exercises aimed at improving efficiency and professionalism within the Nigerian Army.
