...As 81 Division wins overall title at NASAC 2026 Army shooting championship
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has said peace and security are essential for economic growth, investment and sustainable development.
Abiodun stated this on Friday at the grand finale of the Nigerian Army Small Arms Championship 2026, held at the 81 Division Range Ground in Ajilete, Owode, Ogun State.
The governor, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event, was represented by the state Head of Service, Olanrewaju Saka.
In his address, Abiodun commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, and the leadership of the Nigerian Army for choosing Ogun State to host the military competition.
He said the event underscored the state's strategic importance and peaceful environment, adding that security remained fundamental to the state's development aspirations.
The governor noted that military championships went beyond competition, describing them as platforms for improving marksmanship, precision, discipline and weapon proficiency among military personnel.
He said the skills acquired through such exercises were vital to protecting Nigeria's territorial integrity and sustaining peace across the country.
Abiodun reaffirmed his administration's commitment to supporting security agencies with the necessary logistics and cooperation to combat crime, protect lives and safeguard property across the state.
He added that the government's collaboration with security agencies aligned with its development agenda, which covers infrastructure, agriculture, education, youth empowerment and social welfare.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Transformation and Innovation, Maj. Gen. Olusegun Abai, said competitive military exercises were essential for assessing the operational readiness of personnel.
In an address read by Abai, Shuaibu described competition as a means of bringing out the best in people.
"Life itself is built on competition, right from the very onset of creation, where sperm cells compete to fertilise an egg, with the ultimate essence of bringing out the best in humanity," he said.
The army chief, according to the address, was committed to operational excellence and field effectiveness.
He said NASAC 2026 was designed to address contemporary security challenges by improving personnel's proficiency in small arms handling, speed, target acquisition and fire discipline.
At the end of the competition, 81 Division emerged overall winner, sweeping the trophies at the championship.
Army Headquarters Garrison finished second, while 3 Division came third. The Force Special Forces placed fourth, while 8 Division finished last, taking the wooden spoon.
The championship featured personnel from ten Nigerian Army formations, who competed in marksmanship and weapon proficiency exercises.
The closing ceremony featured the presentation of trophies and commendations to the winning formations and participating personnel for their discipline, determination and sportsmanship.
Speaking at the end of the event, the General Officer Commanding, 81 Division, Maj. Gen. Adebayo Babalola, said the competition was organised to assess the combat readiness and training efficiency of Nigerian Army personnel.
He commended the participants for the high standard of performance recorded at the championship, attributing his division's victory to effective training and the Nigerian Army's commitment to professional excellence.
"The standard this year is very high, with excellent results that reflect the Chief of Army Staff's command philosophy of professional excellence.
"You can see our soldiers and officers demonstrating their marksmanship. Effective training produces results, and that is what has manifested in my division, 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, coming first and taking all the trophies," Babalola said.
He added that the performance of the division demonstrated the importance of sustained training in improving soldiers' operational capabilities.
0 Comments