Chief of Army Staff hinges military success on logistics, synergy

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, declaring open the 26th Combat Service Support Training Week of the Nigerian Army on Benin City, Edo State, on Tuesday, said that logistics and synergy across service support corps are “pivot of military success.”

The army chief was represented by Maj.-Gen. Kevin Aligbe, Commander, Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command, the event with the theme: “Enhancing Synergy Amongst Combat Service Support Corps for Effective Service Delivery Within a Joint Multi-Agency Environment.

According to Oluyede, the week-long training will enhance the army’s war fighting efficiency in a dynamic and complex security environment.

“The Combat Service Support Training Week is a strategic enabler that reinforces the Army’s capability to sustain operations across all spectrum of conflict.

“Logistics is the pivot upon which the fulcrum of military operations revolves, and it is thus one of the major determinants of professional success,” he said.

He explained that the theme reflected ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation and build a more responsive system capable of tackling asymmetric and evolving threats.

“As our contemporary operating environment continues to evolve, so must our capabilities, especially our combat service support capabilities.

“This training presents an invaluable opportunity for us to reflect, exchange ideas, and deepen cooperation across the corps,” he stated.

He reaffirmed his “soldier first” philosophy, stressing that prioritising the welfare and readiness of troops remained central to operational success.

“Combat, as we all know, is rife with risk and uncertainty. Therefore, impressing the soldier-first concept which I consistently advocate is the best approach.

“This is because the concept prioritises the soldier and aggressively prepares him for the rigours of combat,” he said.

The army chief, however, commended the efforts of corps commanders in sustaining logistics capacity in spite of paucity of funds.

He assured that under his leadership, more investments would go into training, repair, and maintenance to keep troops combat-ready.

Oluyede expressed confidence that “the insights and outcomes from this training will significantly enhance support capabilities and positively influence operations across our various theatres.”

Earlier in his address of welcome, Maj.-Gen. Adekunle Adeyinka, Commander, Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport (NACST), said the army’s operational effectiveness depended heavily on seamless logistic support, not only the combat arms.

“In today’s complex security landscape, the operational effectiveness of our army lies not less in the combat arms, but more critically on the seamless logistic support rendered by the service support corps.

“This underscores the need to continuously improve methods to prudently and efficiently provide optimal support across the Nigerian Army,” he said.

Adeyinka revealed that the army headquarters approved the participation of 50 students each from the four service support schools to expose young officers to practical problem-solving in logistics.

“This will mentor them towards developing problem-solving mindsets while benefiting from the rich and diverse experiences of our esteemed retired senior officers,” he explained.

Retired senior officers, and representatives of sister services and security agencies graced the occasion, held at the Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport. (NAN)