Representative of the GOC, Commander, 48 Engineers Brigade, Brigadier General Ifenna Agba
General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander, Sector 2 Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FASAN YAMMA, Major General Bemgba Koughna, has emphasized the importance of maintaining peak physical fitness and combat readiness among troops, particularly amid the prevailing security challenges across the region.
Major General Koughna made the remarks during the 8 Division 2026 Inter-Brigade Corporals and Below Competition held at the Giginya Military Cantonment in Sokoto. He explained that the exercise was designed to evaluate soldiers’ endurance, discipline, and operational preparedness.
Represented at the event by the Commander, 48 Engineers Brigade, Brigadier General Ifenna Agba, the GOC stressed that continuous training remains the cornerstone 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,” he stated.
Major General Koughna further noted that the competition would also serve as an opportunity for troops within the Division to improve their endurance level and overall fitness. He added that the current volatile security environment within the Division’s area of responsibility demands 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 added.
The GOC explained that the competition aligns with directives from Army Headquarters aimed at intensifying training activities across formations, in line with the Chief of Army Staff’s command philosophy of building a professional, adaptable, and resilient force.
He also urged participants to strictly adhere to the rules of the competition, while appealing to umpires and judges to maintain fairness and impartiality throughout the event.
Major General Koughna expressed appreciation to the host formation, Headquarters 8 Division Garrison, for organizing the event at short notice. He also commended the Sokoto State Government, other security agencies, and residents for their continued support to military operations in the state.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commander, 8 Division Garrison, Brigadier General Abdulmalik Muhammad, described the week-long competition as a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening 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.
He added that the initiative would help build a more cohesive, robust, and combat-ready junior cadre within the Nigerian Army, while promoting esprit de corps, healthy rivalry, and inter-unit cooperation among formations.
Brigadier General Abdulmalik also commended the leadership of the GOC and urged participants to view the competition as an opportunity to learn from one another, demonstrate discipline, and exhibit the sportsmanship for which the Nigerian Army is globally recognized.
