By Elizabeth Tanko
Kaduna, Nigeria — The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, commissioned a new helipad at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, 44 NARH, Kaduna, to strengthen emergency air evacuation of wounded soldiers from battlefronts.
Speaking at the ceremony, the COAS described the facility as a strategic intervention designed to reduce casualty evacuation time and improve survival chances for troops injured in ongoing operations.
“The ability to move our wounded personnel from the frontlines to definitive medical care within the shortest possible time is non-negotiable. This helipad bridges that gap,” Lt. Gen. Shaibu stated.
According to the Army Chief, rapid medical evacuation is critical to saving lives, enhancing recovery rates and sustaining troop morale.
He noted that the helipad will enable seamless airlift of injured personnel directly to 44 NARH, one of the Army’s foremost referral hospitals.
Lt. Gen. Shaibu revealed that the project was initiated under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, during his tenure as COAS.
He commended Gen. Oluyede for his commitment to troop welfare, describing the helipad as “a lasting contribution to military healthcare delivery and operational effectiveness.”
The COAS directed both the medical and aviation units to ensure round-the-clock operational readiness and proper maintenance of the facility to guarantee effective utilisation whenever needed.
Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director Army Public Relations, in a statement on Tuesday said the commissioning forms part of the Nigerian Army’s broader drive to upgrade medical infrastructure and enhance force health protection for troops engaged in internal security operations nationwide.
