The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to advancing local technological capacity and strengthening strategic partnerships to boost national security.
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‎Speaking on Friday, during a courtesy visit to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) headquarters in Abuja, General Shaibu said there was an urgent need to build local expertise in unmanned aerial systems and drone technology to tackle terrorism, insurgency and banditry.
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‎He praised PTDF’s role in human capacity development and requested specialized training for army personnel to create a strong pool of skilled professionals.
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‎”This will help us establish indigenous companies for the development of unmanned aerial systems and reduce reliance on foreign military training,” the COAS said.
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‎In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of PTDF, Professor Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu, commended the sacrifices of the Nigerian Army in safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity.
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‎He outlined ongoing collaborations under the PTDF In-Country Scholarship Scheme at the Nigerian Defence Academy and pledged to establish a modern ICT center for digital skills training at the proposed Command Science Secondary School in Kaduna.
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‎Professor Aliyu also called for the Army’s support in protecting PTDF’s strategic national assets and regional centres of excellence in Kaduna and Afam, advocating a formal security framework between both institutions.
Army Seeks PTDF Partnership To Boost Local Drone Technology
