By Peter.
On Friday, November 21, 2025, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu visited wounded-in-action troops at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna, as part of his maiden operational tour of the Joint Task Force North West (Operation FANSAN YAMMA) area.
The visit, disclosed in a statement by Acting Director of Army Public Relations Lt. Col. Appolonia Anele, focused on morale-boosting and welfare assessment. Shaibu commended the soldiers for their “courage and sacrifice,” assuring them of the Nigerian Army’s “unwavering commitment” to full medical support and recovery.
Drawing from his own experience—once treated at the same facility after being wounded—Shaibu empathized: “I fully understand the challenges faced by injured soldiers.” He urged adherence to treatment regimens and toured hospital facilities to evaluate improvements. Accompanied by principal staff officers, he later inspected Headquarters Sub-Sector 4 along the Kaduna–Abuja Highway, engaging troops on operational readiness and morale.
Recent Confirmation
Shaibu’s Senate confirmation as COAS came in October 2025, alongside Gen. Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff. The upper chamber directed him to “take a bow” and assume duties immediately, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed push for military welfare and counter-insurgency drives.
This tour underscores Shaibu’s leadership priorities: Troop welfare amid Northeast/Southwest operations against bandits and insurgents.
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