The Nigerian Army has taken a major step towards strengthening its combat readiness with the foundation-laying of the Nigerian Army Special Forces School (NASFS) in Doma, Nasarawa State.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, who performed the ceremony, explained that the initiative was conceived to sharpen the skills of elite troops and prepare them for the complexities of unconventional warfare.

According to him, the facility represents “a legacy of excellence, bravery and sacrifice that will transform the Army’s training architecture and ensure its forces remain at par with global standards.”

Originally established in Buni Yadi, Yobe State, as part of counter-insurgency efforts in the North-East, the Special Forces School is being relocated to Doma to provide an environment better suited for advanced, mission-specific training.

The Buni Yadi site will now serve as the Nigerian Army Acclimatisation Centre, dedicated to preparing personnel for the unique demands of operations in the region, the COAS revealed.

At the event, Oluyede also commissioned two major projects: the headquarters of the 4 Special Forces Command and a modern Officers’ Mess. Both facilities, he said, were designed to enhance operational efficiency, build capacity, and improve personnel welfare, thereby boosting the Army’s overall effectiveness.

Earlier in Lafia, the Army Chief paid a courtesy visit to the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, where he reiterated the Army’s national character and its mandate to protect citizens across diverse communities.

Governor Sule commended the military’s efforts in stabilising the state, noting that agriculture and mining had continued to thrive despite security challenges.

The Doma ceremony concluded with a symbolic tree-planting and the presentation of gifts to the COAS by the Andoma of Doma, in recognition of what was described as his “good leadership.”