Emeng Imoke, commander of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) headquarters, Camp Abuja, has called on troops to remain resilient and intensify training to defeat the nation’s enemies.

Mr Imoke made the call on Monday as a special guest at the opening of the Army Headquarters Garrison Corporals and Below Competition 2026 held in Abuja.

He commended the initiative, describing it as timely and critical to consolidating gains in ongoing security operations across the country.

He said that the training of corporals and below remained fundamental to regimentation, discipline, and professionalism in the armed forces.

He also said that the competition aligned with the chief of the army staff’s transformation agenda, aimed at building a more professional, adaptive, combat-ready, and resilient force capable of operating effectively in a joint and multi-agency environment.

He explained that the exercise was designed to enhance professional competence, technical skills, and leadership qualities required for effective operational performance.

”This training could not have come at a better time as we continue to consolidate gains in the fight against insurgency, banditry, terrorism, and other security challenges,” he said.

The NAF commander also paid tribute to troops on the front lines, commending their courage and sacrifices, while honouring those who paid the supreme price in service to the nation.

He urged participants to maintain professionalism, comradeship, and integrity throughout the competition, while congratulating the organisers and encouraging all competitors to strive for improvement.

”In honour of their memory, we must remain steadfast in training, discipline, and operational readiness to defeat all adversaries and restore enduring peace across the country.

”We must persevere and train harder to defeat enemies,” he emphasised.

Earlier, the commander, AHQ Garrison, Williams Dangana, described the event as a vital component of the Nigerian Army’s training calendar, designed to sharpen the professional competence, physical fitness, and fighting spirit of junior soldiers.

Mr Dangana, represented by his chief of staff, Peter Elayo, said that the Nigerian Army placed a high premium on continuous, realistic, and mission-oriented training to sustain operational effectiveness.

He noted that activities lined up for the competition include drill, skill-at-arms, physical fitness training, combat proficiency, map reading and navigation, all carefully designed to reflect core military competencies.

”This competition provides a structured platform to test the skills, endurance, and mental alertness of our soldiers under controlled but demanding conditions.

”It also promotes healthy rivalry, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence within the ranks,” he said.

He added that the activities were aimed at producing well-rounded, confident, and combat-ready soldiers.

The garrison commander commended the organisers for what he described as meticulous planning and coordination, noting that their efforts had laid a solid foundation for a successful competition.

He also appreciated participating units and subunits for adequately preparing their personnel, while urging competitors to exhibit determination, discipline, and sportsmanship.

”While the desire to win is important, the ultimate objective is to improve skills, learn from one another, and build stronger cohesion,” he said.

(NAN)