By Joy Odor – Reportcircle News Abuja
In a bold stride toward future-ready military operations, the Nigerian Army on Saturday commissioned a cutting-edge State-of-the-Art Wargaming Centre at the Department of Land Warfare, Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, an innovation expected to transform how commanders plan, simulate and execute complex operations nationwide.
The facility, hailed as one of the most technologically advanced operational simulation hubs in West Africa, marks a major milestone in the Army’s drive to strengthen combat preparedness under the leadership of Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu.
Welcoming the COAS, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Idris Alhaji, Commandant of AFCSC, declared that the Wargaming Centre represents a transformative leap in Nigeria’s professional military education.
He noted that the College already recognised for producing intellectually grounded, operationally sound officers will now be able to refine strategic thinking, modern operational concepts and decision-making skills with unprecedented precision.
“This Centre will significantly enhance our capacity to prepare officers for command, instructional and staff duties across complex security environments,” he said, saluting the COAS for driving the initiative from concept to completion.
In his address, General Shaibu reaffirmed the AFCSC’s strategic role in shaping officers capable of confronting Nigeria’s expanding web of security threats.
He stressed that the Wargaming Centre is not merely a training facility but a strategic asset one that will reshape how troops plan, rehearse and execute operations across increasingly fluid and unpredictable theatres.
“Investing in advanced training technologies is essential if we must stay ahead of adversaries,” Shaibu said, urging students to maximise the facility as the Army deepens digital-age readiness.
He reiterated his vision to modernise all military training infrastructures to global standards, noting that AFCSC already attracts officers from across the world making innovations like the Wargaming Centre indispensable.
The Army Chief also expressed profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose consistent support for national security and military capacity-building continues to accelerate the Army’s transformation agenda.
He commended the Commandant and the entire College community for their dedication to elevating professional military education.
Equipped with simulation systems, digital terrain models, operational planning tools and interactive command modules, the Wargaming Centre is expected to:
Sharpen operational planning precision
Strengthen joint and combined-arms coordination
Enhance mission rehearsal and battlefield foresight
Improve commanders’ decision cycles under pressure
The Centre positions Nigeria to better anticipate, simulate and counter today’s fast-evolving threats from insurgency and terrorism to hybrid warfare.
As the Army marches deeper into a technology-driven era, the commissioning in Jaji sends a clear message: Nigeria is not just preparing for the battles of today, it is building the capacity to win the battles of tomorrow.
