COAS Urges Artillery Corps to Embrace Modern Tactics for Enhanced Operations
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has charged personnel of the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery to remain up-to-date with modern artillery tactics and technologies to enhance operational effectiveness.
The COAS, represented by the Deputy Chief of Training, Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi, gave the charge on Thursday at the closing ceremony of Exercise VULCAN GLOW XI 2025 Firepower Demonstration, held at the Nigerian Army Military Training Area in Kachia, Kaduna State.
He said the Army remains fully committed to tackling terrorism and insurgency, acknowledging the sacrifices made by troops to protect national security. He expressed confidence that the Artillery Corps continues to demonstrate its potency by delivering effective fire support during operations.
General Oluyede emphasized the importance of adequate training and preparation for both personnel and equipment, noting that the exercise must have refreshed participants’ knowledge and introduced new competencies needed for field operations.
He commended the Corps for developing indigenous solutions to sustain regular repairs of artillery platforms while advancing research and development. He also noted the successful integration of emerging technologies into training, describing it as “well-thought-out” and key to strengthened fire support capabilities.
The COAS further expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his strategic guidance and unwavering support to the Nigerian Army, which he said has contributed significantly to operational successes.
He urged officers and soldiers of the Artillery Corps to remain committed and continue to live up to their reputation as “the Corps of Proud Professionals.”
Earlier in his address, the Commander Corps of Artillery, Major General Zakari Abubakar, said the annual exercise is in line with Army Headquarters’ training directives and is designed to test artillery personnel in planning, preparation, and deployment of artillery resources in both conventional and unconventional warfare.
He added that Exercise VULCAN GLOW provides opportunities to assess combat readiness in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations and to evaluate the Corps’ fire support capacity across multiple military engagements.
Major General Abubakar disclosed that key findings from the 2024 edition of the exercise were implemented this year, including immediate repairs and digital upgrades of artillery platforms through collaboration with relevant stakeholders. He also highlighted infrastructural development achieved under his leadership, including upgrades at the Nigerian Army School of Artillery and recently completed facilities to support training and welfare.
This year’s edition, themed “Repositioning the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery Through Realistic Training and Maintenance of Artillery Platforms for Effective Fire Support to Nigerian Army Operations Within a Joint and Multi-Agency Environment,” featured competitions among artillery formations, with outstanding units and innovators recognized for excellence in training, research and development.
The ceremony featured a campfire event, a firepower demonstration, presentation of souvenirs and a novelty shoot. Senior military officers, captains of industry, families of gunners, and other dignitaries attended the event.
