09/25/2026
COAS Establishes Airborne School to Strengthen Special Operations Capability
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged the newly established Nigerian Army Airborne School to develop highly skilled, agile and mission-ready personnel capable of conducting complex airborne and special operations in response to evolving security threats.
The COAS gave the charge on Friday, 25 September 2026, while unveiling the Nigerian Army Airborne School at Jaji Military Cantonment, Kaduna State.
In a statement, the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said Lieutenant General Shaibu described the establishment of the School as a strategic investment in capability development, designed to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s capacity to rapidly deploy specialised forces for demanding operations.
He noted that the changing character of warfare and increasing sophistication of asymmetric threats require highly trained and adaptable personnel capable of operating effectively across diverse and challenging environments.
The COAS stressed that airborne and special operations capabilities remain critical to modern military operations, particularly in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency and other asymmetric security environments.
He therefore tasked the Commandant and instructors of the School to develop and continually refine a rigorous and operationally relevant training curriculum that reflects global best practices while addressing Nigeria’s peculiar and evolving security challenges.
Lieutenant General Shaibu further stated that the School would serve as a centre of excellence for airborne operations, parachuting, air assault and other specialised military skills. He explained that the institution would enhance combat readiness, operational flexibility and the Nigerian Army’s capacity to rapidly project appropriately trained forces in support of joint and multi-agency operations.
The COAS assured the School of the continued support of Army Headquarters through the provision of requisite infrastructure, equipment and manpower to enable it effectively discharge its mandate.
He added that the initiative aligns with ongoing efforts to build a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient Nigerian Army capable of effectively discharging its constitutional responsibilities.
Earlier, the Commandant of the Nigerian Army Airborne School, 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.
He stated that the expansion was necessitated by the Nigerian Army’s ongoing force development efforts and the need to strengthen specialised capabilities, particularly those required to complement the operational employment of Nigerian Army Aviation.
The establishment of the Nigerian Army Airborne School marks another step in the Nigerian Army’s efforts to deepen specialised training and enhance the readiness of personnel for complex and rapidly evolving operational environments.