The Nigerian Army has urged its junior personnel to maintain discipline, resilience, and professionalism in the execution of their duties, following the conclusion of the 2026 Army Headquarters Garrison Corporals and Below Competition in Abuja. 

The commander of the Defence Headquarters Garrison, Mike Alechenu, gave the charge at the closing ceremony on Friday, where he was the special guest of honour.

Mr Alechenu, who was represented by the chief of staff, Kabiru Rabiu, said the competition was not just a test of strength and skill but a vital platform for building confidence, sharpening military competence and fostering esprit de corps among personnel.

“Today, we celebrate the backbone of the Nigerian Army – the corporals and soldiers who translate command intent into action on the ground.

“In an era of complex and evolving security challenges, it is imperative that our soldiers remain physically fit, mentally alert and tactically proficient,” he said.

The commander urged participants to carry forward the lessons of discipline, teamwork and resilience into their daily responsibilities, stressing that both winners and non-winners must remain committed to excellence.

He also commended the organisers, instructors and judges for their professionalism and dedication, noting that their efforts were critical to the success of the competition.

Earlier, the commander, Army Headquarters Garrison, William Dangana, said the five-day exercise had effectively tested the participants’ physical fitness, mental resilience and professional competence.

Mr Dangana said the competition featured drills, weapon handling, map reading and navigation, combat runs, swimming, shooting and obstacle crossing.

He reiterated that continuous training remained central to maintaining a highly professional and combat-ready force, while appreciating the leadership of the Nigerian Army for its sustained support.

“These are fundamental soldiering skills critical to operational effectiveness on the battlefield.

“I am impressed by the discipline, professionalism and camaraderie displayed by all participants, which clearly shows they are worthy representatives of their respective units,” he said.

The competition culminated in the announcement of the results by the panel of judges.

The judges said the exercise was conducted with fairness, impartiality and strict professionalism, with participants assessed across multiple events, including drills, navigation, endurance runs, combat swimming, weapon handling and obstacle crossing.

They disclosed that a tie recorded between two teams during the final collation of results was resolved by a tie-breaker involving stripping and reassembling the AK-47 rifle.

According to the results, Team Alpha finished third with 490 points out of 600; Team Charlie finished second with 500 points, while the overall winner, Team Delta, finished with 580 points.

The competition, which lasted five days, was designed to enhance the operational readiness and combat efficiency of junior non-commissioned officers and soldiers. 

(NAN)