COAS Deepens Strategic Partnership With NAFRC To Advance Troops’ Welfare, Post-Service Empowerment
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Lagos, as part of a broader effort to enhance troops’ welfare and prepare personnel for successful life after military service.
The COAS gave the assurance on Tuesday, 3 February 2026, during a high-level engagement with the Commandant of NAFRC, Air Vice Marshal Nnaemeka Ilo, at the Army Headquarters, Abuja. He highlighted the importance of eliminating operational bottlenecks that hinder effective skills acquisition and post-service transition, noting that welfare support must extend beyond active service to ensure long-term stability and productivity for personnel.
Lieutenant General Shaibu congratulated Air Vice Marshal Ilo on his appointment and highlighted the strategic role of NAFRC in equipping personnel with vocational, technical, and professional competencies critical for economic self-reliance after retirement. He stressed that the Nigerian Army places premium value on structured resettlement programmes as a core component of its evolving welfare architecture.
The COAS commended the Centre’s diverse skills acquisition initiatives, describing them as vital enablers of a smooth and dignified transition from military to civilian life. He further acknowledged the significant leadership responsibility involved in managing the welfare and development needs of a large population of Nigerian Army personnel undergoing training at the Centre.
The Army Boss reiterated the Army’s commitment to strengthening institutional capacity and sustaining welfare reforms that prioritise personnel development. He also emphasised the need for structured post-training placement mechanisms, noting that many trained personnel possess valuable technical and professional skills that can be effectively deployed in civilian organisations and the private sector. He encouraged NAFRC to deepen partnerships, strengthen data management systems, and adopt human-resource-driven placement strategies to support seamless reintegration and long-term employability.
In his remarks, Air Vice Marshal Ilo expressed profound appreciation for the enduring synergy between the Nigerian Army and NAFRC, particularly the COAS’s personal commitment to the Centre’s mandate. He disclosed that a significant number of Nigerian Army personnel are among the Armed Forces contingents currently undergoing various training programmes, positioning NAFRC as a critical engine for professional development and post-service empowerment.
The Commandant further assured the COAS of the Centre’s continued loyalty and pledged to faithfully implement all directives aimed at enhancing personnel welfare and resettlement outcomes.
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