By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Army to providing an efficient and responsive healthcare system as critical to sustaining military operations and preserving troops’ combat effectiveness.
Lieutenant General Shaibu stated this in Kaduna on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, while commissioning the newly completed Waidi Shaibu Critical Care Centre at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital (44 NARH). He also commissioned a modern helipad designed to facilitate the swift medical evacuation of injured personnel from operational theatres to the hospital.
The COAS noted that timely access to quality medical care directly impacts troop morale, recovery rates and the overall operational readiness of the Nigerian Army. He explained that the Critical Care Centre is equipped to manage trauma, intensive care and other complex medical cases, thereby reducing the need to refer critically injured or ill personnel outside military medical facilities.
“The strength of any fighting force is not measured by weapons alone, but also by the quality of care given to those who bear the burden of national security,” the COAS stated. He added that the Nigerian Army remains committed to upgrading medical infrastructure across its formations and units to meet contemporary operational and healthcare demands.
The helipad was constructed under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff. Lieutenant General Shaibu commended the CDS for his foresight, describing the facility as a critical enabler that would significantly reduce casualty evacuation time from operational theatres and enhance the chances of survival and recovery.
The COAS charged medical personnel at 44 NARH to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and ensure the optimal utilisation and maintenance of the newly commissioned facilities.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, on 25 August 2026.
