COAS Pledges ₦25 Million to Veterans’ Emergency Health Fund, Reaffirms Commitment to Retired Officers

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reinforced the military’s dedication to personnel welfare by announcing a donation of ₦25 million to support the medical needs of retired officers.

The financial pledge, channeled toward the Emergency Health Fund (EHF) of the Course 39 Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) United Welfare Association, was made when the association’s Executive Committee paid a courtesy visit to the Army Chief.

Addressing the delegation, led by retired Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, Lieutenant General Shaibu emphasized that looking after personnel long after they hang up their uniforms is an unyielding institutional duty. He noted that maintaining active engagement with military veterans is a critical pillar of force development, ensuring that institutional memory, leadership expertise, and decades of tactical experience are not lost.

“Caring for those who have served the nation remains an enduring responsibility and an important component of personnel welfare,” the COAS stated. He added that the accumulated wisdom of retired officers provides vital mentorship and fresh perspectives for tackling the nation’s evolving security landscape.

In his remarks, AVM Daramola congratulated the COAS on his leadership and commended the sustained collaboration between the Nigerian Army and retired officer networks, particularly in enhancing health insurance, emergency response, and post-service transition programs. Daramola assured the Army leadership that Course 39 veterans remain fully committed to offering advisory and technical support to boost national security efforts.