By Nkechi Eze
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s resolve to deepen its strategic collaboration with the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Lagos, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen personnel welfare and ensure a smooth, dignified transition to civilian life after military service.
The assurance was given on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, when the COAS received the Commandant of NAFRC, Air Vice Marshal Nnaemeka Ilo, at the Army Headquarters, Abuja, during a high-level engagement focused on enhancing resettlement outcomes for retiring and serving personnel.
Lieutenant General Shaibu emphasised that effective welfare support must extend beyond the period of active service, noting that the long-term stability and productivity of military personnel depend largely on the availability of structured and functional post-service empowerment programmes. He stressed the need to identify and eliminate operational bottlenecks that hinder efficient skills acquisition, training delivery and post-service transition.
Congratulating Air Vice Marshal Ilo on his appointment, the COAS highlighted the strategic importance of NAFRC in equipping personnel with vocational, technical and professional skills required for economic self-reliance after retirement. He described structured resettlement and reintegration programmes as a critical pillar within the Nigerian Army’s evolving welfare architecture.
The Army Chief commended the Centre’s wide range of skills acquisition initiatives, noting that they play a vital role in preparing personnel for productive civilian life. He also acknowledged the enormous leadership responsibility involved in managing the training, welfare and development of large numbers of Nigerian Army personnel who pass through the Centre annually.
Lieutenant General Shaibu reiterated the Army’s commitment to strengthening institutional capacity at NAFRC and sustaining welfare-focused reforms that prioritise continuous personnel development. He further underscored the importance of establishing structured post-training placement mechanisms, observing that many trained personnel possess valuable competencies that can be productively deployed in government institutions, private sector organisations and entrepreneurial ventures.
To this end, he encouraged NAFRC to expand partnerships, improve data management systems and adopt human-resource-driven placement strategies that will facilitate seamless reintegration and enhance long-term employability for graduates of the Centre’s programmes.
In his remarks, the Commandant of NAFRC, Air Vice Marshal Nnaemeka Ilo, expressed deep appreciation for the long-standing synergy between the Nigerian Army and the Centre, as well as the COAS’s personal commitment to advancing NAFRC’s mandate.
He disclosed that a significant number of Nigerian Army personnel currently form part of the Armed Forces contingents undergoing various training programmes at the Centre, further positioning NAFRC as a key hub for professional development and post-service empowerment within the military.
Air Vice Marshal Ilo assured the COAS of the Centre’s continued loyalty and pledged to diligently implement all directives aimed at strengthening personnel welfare and improving resettlement outcomes.
