By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
The 11th General Officer Commanding (GOC), 8 Division, and Commander, Sector 2 Joint Task Force (North West) Operation FASAN YAMMA Nigeria Army, Major General Bemgba Paul Koughna, has said that
physical fitness and combat readiness of troops at all times is very crucial especially in these volatile times.
Koughna, who made the assertion at the 8 Division’s 2026 Inter-Brigade Corporals and Below Competition held in the Giginya Military Cantonment, Sokoto, reassured that the exercise was designed to test the endurance, discipline, and operational preparedness of soldiers.
The GOC, who was represented by the Commander, 48 Engineers Brigade, Brigadier General Ifenna Fredrick Agba, affirmed that training remains the undisputable foundation of military professionalism.
“Training is the bedrock of the military profession and the cradle upon which regimentation and discipline are formed. Competitions like this are organised to assess the physical fitness and combat readiness of troops, which is the main objective.”
While stressing that the exercise would also provide an avenue for soldiers of the Division to improve their endurance and overall fitness, Maj. Gen. Koughna submitted that the current volatile security environment posed serious challenges within the Division’s area of responsibility, hence the need for well-trained and combat-ready personnel at all times..
“To mitigate the activities of criminal elements, physically fit, combat-ready, and well-motivated troops are critical,” he stressed.
Giving reasons for the competition, Koughna said it aligns with the directive of the Army Headquarters designed to intensify training activities across formations, in consonance with the Chief of Army Staff’s command philosophy of building a professional, adaptable, and resilient force.
While admonishing participants to adhere strictly to the rules, the GOC equally appealed to the umpires and judges to ensure fairness and impartiality throughout the competition.
Koughna further thanked the host formation, Headquarters 8 Division Garrison, for organising the event at a short notice, just as he appreciated the Sokoto State Government, other security agencies, and residents for their continued support to the military.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commander, 8 Division Garrison, Brig.-Gen. Abdulmalik Muhammad, described the week-long event as a strategic initiative to strengthen junior leadership and operational capacity among Corporals and below.
“This competition is not merely a contest of skills but a deliberate effort to enhance training, discipline, physical resilience, and tactical proficiency of our personnel.
“This, therefore, explains why the competition is to cover areas such as map reading, swimming, drill exercises, endurance runs, weapon handling, and other tactical challenges’ Abdulmalik noted.
The Garrison Commander further hinted that the initiative would help build a more cohesive, robust, and combat-ready junior cadre within the Nigerian Army, and promote esprit de corps, healthy rivalry, and inter-unit cooperation among formations.
Brig. Gen. Abdulmalik also appealed to participants to see the competition as an avenue to learn from one another, and showcase the discipline and sportsmanship which the Nigeria Army is known for globally.
