📍Abuja | Media360Impact Report
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 improve the emergency air evacuation of wounded soldiers from operational areas.
The facility is expected to significantly reduce the time it takes to transport injured personnel from the battlefield to specialised medical care, strengthening the Army’s capacity to respond to critical casualties.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Tuesday, Shaibu described the helipad as a strategic investment in troop welfare and military healthcare.
He stressed that rapid medical evacuation is essential to saving lives, supporting faster recovery and sustaining the morale of troops involved in ongoing operations.
“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 a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the project was initiated under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff.
Shaibu commended Oluyede for his foresight and commitment to the welfare of Nigerian soldiers, describing the helipad as a lasting contribution to military healthcare delivery and operational effectiveness.
The Army Chief also directed the hospital’s medical and aviation units to maintain round-the-clock operational readiness and ensure regular maintenance of the facility.
He said the directive was necessary to guarantee that the helipad remains fully functional and available whenever urgent evacuation of wounded personnel is required.
