By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to leveraging strategic public-private partnerships to strengthen personnel welfare, institutional resilience and operational effectiveness in support of national security objectives.
The COAS made this known on Thursday, 30 July 2026, while receiving a delegation from Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), led by its Executive Director, Mr. Ahmed Liman, during a courtesy visit to the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
He described GTBank as a dependable institutional partner whose innovative financial services continue to complement the Nigerian Army’s transformation drive by promoting financial inclusion, improving administrative efficiency and enhancing the welfare of personnel.
Lieutenant General Shaibu observed that the Presidential approval for increased recruitment and the ongoing expansion of the Nigerian Army require a responsive, technology-driven banking system capable of providing seamless financial services to personnel across formations nationwide.
He commended GTBank’s leadership in digital banking and expressed confidence that a stronger partnership would further improve financial service delivery while supporting the Army’s operational readiness.
In line with the Nigerian Army’s “Soldier First, welfare philosophy, the COAS urged GTBank to expand its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives to include support for wounded-in-action personnel, widows and orphans of fallen heroes.
He also requested the deployment of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) to newly established and remote military barracks to improve access to banking services, minimise unnecessary troop movement and enhance operational responsiveness.
Earlier, the Executive Director of GTBank, Mr. Ahmed Liman, applauded the Nigerian Army for its unwavering commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and safeguarding the lives and property of citizens.
He reaffirmed the bank’s readiness to deepen collaboration with the Service by providing tailored financial solutions that support its operational and administrative requirements while ensuring full compliance with the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy.
Mr. Liman highlighted GTBank’s specialised banking services for government institutions, including dedicated trade desks for processing Letters of Credit (LCs) to facilitate defence procurement, secure digital platforms for salary administration and contractor payments, and institutional funds management solutions.
He also presented the bank’s military-focused products, notably the GT Patriot Account, which provides waived banking charges and concessionary lending rates for personnel, as well as GTB Pension Management services designed to optimise Retirement Savings Accounts and enhance long-term financial security for Nigerian Army personnel.
