The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen Waidi Shaibu, on Monday, visited the Amphibious Training School (ATS) in Calabar, Cross River State, to assess its impact to deliver specialised training for troops operating in aquatic, riverine and littoral environments

In a statement on Tuesday, the army spokesperson, Appolonia Anele, said the COAS highlighted that enhancing amphibious warfare capabilities was crucial to building a more professional, adaptable and combat-ready Nigerian Army capable of responding effectively to emerging security challenges.

The statement indicated that the Commandant, Mathias Amatso, received the COAS and briefed him on the school’s training programmes, facilities, achievements and challenges.

It noted that Mr Shaibu also interacted with instructors and trainees, assessing the quality of training and the institution’s contribution to developing specialised military competencies.

He commended the school for its critical role in producing officers equipped with the skills and expertise required to conduct operations across rivers, creeks, wetlands and coastal environments. 

He noted that ATS proficiency enhances troop mobility, operational flexibility and combat effectiveness, in difficult terrains that terrorists, insurgents and other criminals could exploit.

He further stressed that the growing complexity of Nigeria’s security environment made specialised military training indispensable for securing strategic waterways, protecting critical national infrastructure, disrupting criminal networks and supporting joint operations with sister Services and other security agencies.

Mr Shaibu assured that the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to expand the Nigerian Army’s formations, strengthen manpower and modernise its operational capabilities would be matched by corresponding investments in military training institutions.

He emphasised that the Nigerian Army’s training institutions remain critical to force generation, professional development and operational readiness.

He added that their facilities, instructional aids, training methodologies and manpower must continually evolve to meet the demands of an expanding and technologically advancing force.

He therefore urged instructors to sustain high training standards while encouraging trainees to uphold discipline, resilience and professionalism.

The COAS charged the Amphibious Training School to build capacity for expanding the Nigerian Army.

He assured of the army headquarters’ commitment to supporting the upgrade of its infrastructure, training facilities and instructional aids to strengthen its capacity to deliver quality specialised training.