The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, officially inaugurated the Combat Support Arms Training (COSAT) Week 2024 at the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering in Makurdi, Benue State.
The event, which commenced on Tuesday, aims to bolster the Nigerian Army’s operational capabilities through collaboration and innovation in emerging technologies.
In his opening remarks, General Lagbaja highlighted the critical importance of robust and reliable support for the Nigerian Army (NA) in today’s complex and unpredictable operational environment.
He stressed that the Combat Support forces, which provide essential services such as intelligence, communications, engineering, and fire support, must be at their best to ensure the Army’s strategic, operational, and tactical effectiveness.
General Lagbaja praised the Combat Support Corps for their significant contributions to the NA’s successes both domestically and internationally.
He reviewed the roles of various corps: the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery for fire support, the Nigerian Army Engineers for operational mobility, the Nigerian Army Signals for communications and cyber operations, and the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps for crucial intelligence gathering.
He acknowledged their achievements but emphasized the need for continuous training and research to adapt to the ever-evolving nature of warfare.
Aligning with his command philosophy, General Lagbaja called for partnerships with reputable institutions to drive research and development, aiming to integrate emerging technologies into NA operations.
He assured attendees of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to supporting the Army’s goals for equipment upgrades and operational improvements.
Benue State Governor, Reverend Father (Dr.) Hyacinth Alia, in his goodwill message, commended the troops for their dedication and described COSAT Week as a significant step towards leveraging technology to enhance military operations against non-state actors.
He reiterated the state’s support for the Army’s security initiatives.
The keynote address was delivered by Professor Abiodun Musa Aibinu, Vice Chancellor of Summit University, who urged the Nigerian Army to swiftly incorporate emerging technologies to strengthen national security.
Major General Philip Eromosele, Commander of the Corps of Engineers, outlined the objectives of COSAT, focusing on enhancing operational efficiency and leveraging technology to address national security threats.
He noted that the event would feature a research and development exhibition and river crossing demonstrations.
The event was attended by key stakeholders in science, technology, and research, including members of the Senate and House Committees on Army and representatives from the Ministry of Innovation and Technology.
LV