The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division, Nigerian Army, and Commander, Sector 2, Joint Operation FASAN YAMMA, Major General Paul Koughna, has flagged off the 2026 8 Division Inter-Brigade Combat Proficiency Competition in Sokoto, reaffirming the Nigerian Army’s commitment to maintaining physically fit, combat-ready and highly disciplined troops.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on Monday, Maj. Gen. Koughna said the competition was designed to test the resilience, discipline and operational preparedness of participating soldiers while strengthening leadership, professionalism and dedication among personnel.
Represented by the Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Ibrahim Gambari, the GOC stressed that continuous training and retraining remain central to the command philosophy of the Chief of Army Staff, describing them as essential to military professionalism.
He noted that competitions of this nature are an important part of the Nigerian Army’s annual training calendar, especially given the country’s current security challenges, where operational efficiency and combat proficiency are indispensable.
“The leadership of Nigeria Army places immense priority on developing personnel who are not only competent and disciplined but highly combat ready hence your ability to execute tactical maneuver, and mental discipline would help to provide decisive leadership under pressure which aligns with the very foundation upon which our operational successes are built.»
“Over the course of this competition, you will be rigorously tested on your professional military knowledge, leadership, marksmanship and tactical proficiencies. The primary objectives of this gathering are clear: to assess and significantly improve the combat readiness of our troops, to promote esprit de corps, and foster a healthy yet fierce inter-brigade rivalry, and to evaluate the current training standard across various formation within the 8 Division.”
Maj. Gen. Koughna urged the participating troops, drawn from various brigades under the division, to view the competition as an opportunity to demonstrate their professionalism and readiness for real-life operations.
According to him, the exercises have been carefully designed to challenge both the physical endurance and mental resilience of the competitors.
«”They may be daunting, but they are deliberately structured to sharpen your professional edge for real-world operation. I expect nothing less than absolute discipline, unwavering determination, and strict adherence to the rules of the competition. Fight out for the glory of your respective Brigade in the true spirit of sportsmanship.”»
The GOC further underscored the importance of continuous military training, saying:
“Training is the bedrock of the military profession and the cradle upon which regimentation and discipline are formed.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commander, 8 Division Garrison, Brigadier General Isidore Amah, described the competition as a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing the operational effectiveness of troops across the division.
He commended the leadership of Maj. Gen. Koughna, noting that the exercise goes beyond competition and is intended to strengthen training standards, discipline, resilience and tactical competence among personnel.
Brig. Gen. Amah disclosed that participants would compete in several military exercises, including map reading, swimming, drills, endurance runs, weapon handling and other tactical tasks designed to improve operational capability.
