Oluyede harps on importance of logistics, synergy to Army’s operation

By Jethro Ibileke

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has described logistics and synergy across service support corps as the “pivot of military success”.

Oluyede stated this on Tuesday while declaring open the 26th Combat Service Support Training Week of the Nigerian Army, hosted at the Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport (NASST), Benin, City, Edo State.

The COAS who was represented by the Commander, Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Maj.-Gen. Kevin Aligbe, noted that the week-long training will enhance the army’s warfighting efficiency in a dynamic and complex security environment.

He said: “The Combat Service Support Training Week is a strategic enabler that reinforces the Army’s capability to sustain operations across all spectrums of conflict.

“Logistics is the pivot upon which the fulcrum of military operations revolves, and it is thus one of the major determinants of professional success.”

The army chief noted that the theme of the training: “Enhancing Synergy Amongst Combat Service Support Corps for Effective Service Delivery Within a Joint Multi-Agency Environment”, reflected ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation and build a more responsive system capable of tackling asymmetric and evolving threats.

“As our contemporary operating environment continues to evolve, so must our capabilities, especially our combat service support capabilities.

“This training presents an invaluable opportunity for us to reflect, exchange ideas, and deepen cooperation across the corps,” he stated

Oluyede reaffirmed his “soldier first” philosophy, stressing that prioritising the welfare and readiness of troops remained central to operational success.

“Combat, as we all know, is rife with risk and uncertainty. Therefore, impressing the soldier-first concept which I consistently advocate is the best approach.

“This is because the concept prioritises the soldier and aggressively prepares him for the rigours of combat,” he said.

The army chief, however, commended the efforts of corps commanders in sustaining logistics capacity despite resource constraints.

He assured that under his leadership, more investments would go into training, repair, and maintenance to keep troops combat-ready.

Oluyede expressed confidence that “the insights and outcomes from this training will significantly enhance support capabilities and positively influence operations across our various theatres.

Earlier in his welcome remark, the Commander of Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport (NACST), Maj.-Gen. Adekunle Adeyinka, noted that the army’s operational effectiveness depended not only the combat arms, but heavily on seamless logistic support.

“In today’s complex security landscape, the operational effectiveness of our army lies not less in the combat arms, but more critically on the seamless logistic support rendered by the service support corps.

“This underscores the need to continuously improve methods to prudently and efficiently provide optimal support across the Nigerian Army,” he said.

Adeyinka revealed that the army headquarters approved the participation of 50 students each from the four service support schools to expose young officers to practical problem-solving in logistics.

“This will mentor them towards developing problem-solving mindsets while benefiting from the rich and diverse experiences of our esteemed retired senior officers,” he explained.

Retired senior officers, and representatives of sister services and security agencies were present at the event.

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