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The 2024 Nigerian Army Small Arms Championship (NASAC) kicked off at the Jaji Military Cantonment Range in Kaduna State, with more than 542 personnel from various divisions of the Nigerian Army participating.
The week-long event, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), features 109 officers and 433 soldiers competing to demonstrate their proficiency in small arms handling.
Participants are drawn from units including the Army Headquarters Garrison in Abuja, as well as divisions from across the country: 1 Division Kaduna, 2 Division Ibadan, 3 Division Jos, 6 Division Port Harcourt, 8 Division Sokoto, 81 Division Lagos, 82 Division Enugu, and 4 Special Forces Command in Doma, Nasarawa.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, officially launched the championship on Monday.
Represented by Maj.-Gen. Kevin Aligbe, Commander of the Training and Doctrine Command Nigerian Army (TRADOCNA), Lagbaja emphasised the significance of well-trained personnel to the success of military operations.
“This is not just a competition in marksmanship but a holistic exercise that tests various aspects of military professionalism, discipline, and the ability to respond effectively to a wide range of security challenges,” Lagbaja said. He highlighted that the Nigerian Army places a high premium on training and preparedness.
The COAS noted that events like NASAC help enhance the operational proficiency of the army, which is central to his command philosophy.
He further explained that the championship “underscores the importance of operational proficiency and military effectiveness.”
According to him, the skills demonstrated at NASAC will ensure that the Nigerian Army remains a formidable force, capable of responding to the nation’s evolving security threats.
“The Nigerian Army Small Arms Championship is not just an exercise in shooting accuracy; it is an embodiment of the values and principles that define us as soldiers,” Lagbaja added.
He stressed the importance of proficiency in small arms as a decisive factor in combating threats such as insurgency, terrorism, and banditry.
“Let this competition inspire you to be better soldiers, more determined in your resolve to protect our nation, and more prepared to face any adversary,” he urged the participants.
The army chief also reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and the Armed Forces of Nigeria, noting that the soldiers are united by their common purpose of protecting the nation and its citizens.
Earlier in his remarks, Maj-Gen. Mayirenso Saraso, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 1 Division Nigerian Army and Commander of Sector 1, Joint Task Force Northwest Operation Fansan Yanma, emphasised that the championship is designed to assess and enhance the proficiency of troops in small arms handling.
He urged participants to remain focused, professional, and committed throughout the competition.
Saraso also commended Lagbaja for his relentless support for the championship.
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