The Nigerian Army says it is determined to leverage on advanced technologies to improve personnel operations and effectiveness.
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja stated this at a seminar on “Digital Transformation and Smart Soldier Concept” organised by the Army Headquarters Department of Army Transformation and Innovation, held at the headquarters of 3 Division in Jos, Plateau State.
Speaking on behalf of the Army chief, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 3 Division, and Commander of Operation Safe Haven, Major General Abudulsalam Abubakar, revealed that the concept of the “smart soldier” is at the heart of the desired transformation of the Nigerian Army, hence the need for the Nigerian Army to stay ahead of technological trends, equip soldiers with the knowledge and tools including artificial intelligence, smart devices and wearable technology, to improve communication, situational awareness, and decision-making in combat scenarios that allow them to operate effectively in a digitized environment.
“The seminar is thus critical, considering the challenges bedeviling our dear nation, which requires focused leadership, operational effectiveness, and sound administration, which are the pillars of my command philosophy. It must, however, be noted that transformation is not merely adopting new technologies; rather, it is about fostering a culture of innovation and encouraging adaptability in a rapidly changing operating environment. The success of this transformation will then largely depend on our ability to seamlessly integrate new technologies with the human elements to ensure that soldiers remain agile, informed, and prepared,” he said.
Technological advancement is shaping the way things are done in every sphere of human endeavor, in Modern warfare cutting-edge technology can make the difference between winning and losing.
It is against this backdrop that the Nigerian Army in its bid to keep up with modern trends organized the seminar for middle and junior officers.
Deputy Head of the Army Department of transformation Major General Adewale Adetoba said the Nigerian army aims to leverage Modern technology for effective operations.
Nigerian Army Smart Soldier Concept
Following the lessons learned while fighting Boko Haram, the Nigerian Army began a series of technology-driven initiative to provide troopers with sophisticated equipment to defeat the enemy.
Realizing that an incorrectly structured army, utilizing an ineffective and outdated doctrine and equipment, gives any threat-force an advantage whilst placing itself at a disadvantage, the Nigerian Army Chief of Army Staff; General Tukur Buratai unveiled the new Nigerian Army smart uniform which can send signals to the Command and Control network when an individual soldier is in danger.
Also, in order to provide better situational awareness, drones are being tethered to squad-sized troops to enables rapid battlefield decision making and adds to the initiative of junior commanders.
For enhanced lethality, the FB Beryl rifle chambered on the 7.63 x 39mm is being inducted. An innovative auto-aim rifle technology is also being developed by Nigerian Army engineers. Improved ballistic armour protection is also given to the Nigeria soldiers on the frontlines.