The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has called on Commanders to devise innovative approaches to enhance man-management and battle readiness within the Nigerian Army.
Oluyede made the statement on Thursday during the ‘Sensitization Lessons Learned Visit’ to the Headquarters of the 8 Division in Sokoto.
He said the event, organised by the Army Headquarters, Department of Army Transformation and Innovation, was aimed at strengthening the army’s operational effectiveness.
Represented by Maj.-Gen. Olusegun Abai, Chief of Transformation and Innovation (Army), the COAS emphasised the need for continuous learning and the application of lessons in the army’s planning processes.
He highlighted the importance of proper analysis and application of these lessons to minimise human casualties and reduce operational costs.
“The identification and inclusion of lessons in day-to-day planning is crucial. These lessons must be analysed and applied effectively to reduce casualties and operational costs,” Oluyede noted.
He also pointed out that the seminar was one of the several measures designed to address the challenges faced by troops operating in a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous security environment.
“In this context, the Nigerian Army is continually reviewing its tactics, techniques, and procedures to develop both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to confront these challenges,” the COAS said.
Oluyede emphasised that the seminar was focused on improving the capacity of personnel and raising awareness about the ‘Nigerian Army Lessons Learned Process’ to enhance combat- readiness.
He explained that the visit was aimed to reignite critical thinking skills and foster creativity among the commanders, especially the junior ones, by helping them draw lessons from operational experiences.
“This is in line with my command philosophy for the Nigerian Army, which seeks to transform the force into a well-motivated and combat-ready organisation,” he added.
The COAS described the seminar as timely, offering the participants a better understanding of how to extract lessons from operations and continuously raise awareness of issues such as drug and substance abuse.
He reaffirmed the unwavering loyalty of the officers and men of the Nigerian army to President Bola Tinubu, acknowledging his support and commitment to the welfare of the personnel.
Oluyede also commended the Department of Army Transformation and Innovation for organising the sensitisation visit, which he believed would enhance operational and situational awareness among the troops.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the seminar was “Enhancing Operational Effectiveness through the Nigerian Army Lessons Learned Process/Feedback Mechanism.