By Elizabeth Tanko
Kaduna, Nigeria – The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has unveiled the Nigerian Army Airborne Training School at Jaji Military Cantonment, Kaduna State, with a charge to troops to be agile, highly skilled and mission-ready for complex operations.
The COAS gave the charge on Friday, 25 September 2026, while commissioning the new School.
General Shaibu described the establishment as a strategic investment in capability development, designed to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s capacity to rapidly deploy specialised forces to confront evolving security threats.
He noted that the changing character of warfare and the growing sophistication of asymmetric threats demand forces that are highly trained, adaptable and capable of operating in diverse and challenging environments.
According to him, airborne and special operations capabilities remain critical to modern operations, especially in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency and other asymmetric environments.
He tasked the Commandant and instructors to develop a rigorous, operationally relevant curriculum that reflects global best practices while addressing Nigeria’s peculiar security challenges.
The School, he said, will serve as a centre of excellence for airborne operations, parachuting, air assault and other specialised military skills, boosting combat readiness, operational flexibility and rapid force projection for joint and multi-agency operations.
The COAS assured the School of Army Headquarters’ full support with infrastructure, equipment and manpower, stressing that the initiative aligns with ongoing efforts to build a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient Army.
Earlier, the Commandant, Brigadier General Muhammed Sani Usman, explained that the institution was upgraded from a Wing of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, to a full-fledged School to complement the operational employment of Nigerian Army Aviation and strengthen specialised capabilities.
In a statement, the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the new Airborne School underscores the Army’s drive for specialised training and rapid deployment capability to decisively tackle contemporary threats.
