General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division, Nigerian Army, and Commander, Sector 2 Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General Bemgba Paul Koughna, has charged junior commanders to sustain a high level of combat readiness by prioritising physical fitness, professional competence and effective leadership.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2026 8 Division Inter-Brigade Combat Proficiency Competition in Sokoto, Major General Koughna urged the participating officers to transfer the lessons learnt during the exercise to their respective units in order to strengthen operational effectiveness.
He stressed that military leadership begins with personal preparedness, reminding the officers that physical and mental fitness remain indispensable qualities for every soldier.
According to the GOC, “The soldier, as an individual, is the first weapon of war, and the primary requirement of any soldier is to be ‘fit to fight.’ Therefore to effectively lead men, it fundamentally requires junior commanders to maintain peak physical and mental fitness.”
He noted that the first pillar of the Chief of Army Staff’s Command Philosophy is centred on combat readiness, urging the officers to internalise the experiences gained during the five-day competition and translate them into improved performance during routine and operational assignments.
The exercise, hosted by the 8 Division Garrison at the Giginya Military Cantonment in Sokoto, brought together formations under the division to assess the operational capabilities of junior commanders through demanding physical and tactical challenges.
Participants were evaluated on combat skills, endurance, technical proficiency and their ability to execute operational tasks under pressure. Activities included a 10-kilometre combat run, a 4×400-metre combat relay, weapon handling drills, map reading, obstacle crossing and other tactical exercises.
At the end of the competition, the 8 Division Garrison emerged overall champions, while 1 Brigade, Nigerian Army, finished second. 17 Brigade secured third place.
Major General Koughna commended all the participating formations for demonstrating discipline, professionalism and a strong competitive spirit throughout the exercise.
The successful completion of the 2026 Inter-Brigade Combat Proficiency Competition, he noted, underscores the Nigerian Army’s continued commitment to realistic training, personnel development and maintaining operational readiness across its formations.
