Nigerian Army's Lt. Gen Shaibu Advocates Local Tech Growth

On September 18, 2026, Lt. Gen Waidi Shaibu, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Nigerian Army, reaffirmed the Army's commitment to advancing local technological capacity during a courtesy visit to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) headquarters in Abuja. He stressed the urgent need to develop local expertise in unmanned aerial systems and drone technology to effectively address challenges such as terrorism, insurgency, and banditry.

Gen Shaibu formally requested specialized training for army personnel to cultivate a skilled workforce, aiming to establish indigenous companies for unmanned aerial systems and reduce dependence on foreign military training. He acknowledged the PTDF's ongoing support for Command Secondary Schools.

Professor Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu, the Executive Secretary of the PTDF, praised the Nigerian Army's sacrifices for national security and outlined collaborative efforts, including the PTDF In-Country Scholarship Scheme at the Nigerian Defence Academy. He also proposed establishing a modern ICT center for digital skills training at the Command Science Secondary School in Kaduna.