The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has commissioned a new helipad at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital (44 NARH), Kaduna, to facilitate the rapid evacuation of wounded soldiers from operational theatres.
The commissioning took place on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, with the COAS describing the facility as a strategic intervention designed to reduce casualty evacuation time and improve the survival and recovery prospects of injured military personnel.
Lieutenant General Shaibu stressed the importance of swift medical evacuation in ongoing military operations, noting that the ability to move wounded troops from frontline areas to definitive medical care within the shortest possible time was critical to saving lives and sustaining troop morale.
«“The ability to move our wounded personnel from the frontlines to definitive medical care within the shortest possible time is non-negotiable. This helipad bridges that gap,” the COAS said.»
According to him, the new facility will strengthen the Nigerian Army’s medical response capacity by providing a dedicated landing point for emergency air evacuation of casualties requiring urgent specialist treatment.
The project was initiated under the leadership of the current Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff.
The COAS commended General Oluyede for his foresight and commitment to the welfare of troops, describing the helipad as a lasting contribution to military healthcare delivery and operational effectiveness.
Shaibu subsequently directed the medical and aviation units to maintain the helipad in a state of round-the-clock operational readiness. He also charged them to ensure proper maintenance and effective utilisation of the facility whenever emergency evacuation becomes necessary.
The commissioning underscores the Nigerian Army’s continued efforts to strengthen medical support for personnel deployed in operational theatres and improve the speed with which wounded soldiers receive definitive medical attention.
