The Nigerian Army is stepping up the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI), simulation technology and data analytics to strengthen battlefield decision-making and improve its readiness to confront terrorists and other security threats.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, disclosed this on Tuesday while declaring open a Simulation Training Seminar at the Land Forces Simulation Centre Nigeria (LFSCN), Giri, Abuja.
Shaibu, who was represented by the Coordinator, Nigerian Military Training Support Assistance Team, Maj.-Gen. Umar Yusuf, said simulation technology would allow commanders to test operational plans, anticipate adversary moves and identify capability gaps before they become costly realities on the battlefield.
He described simulation as more than a training tool, saying it had become a critical command instrument for threat analysis, testing operational plans, strengthening predictive capabilities and exploiting identified vulnerabilities of adversaries.
“Simulation is far more than a training aid but rather a critical command instrument for supporting data analysis, strengthening predictive capabilities and enabling commanders to match our strengths against identified adversary vulnerabilities,” he said.
The COAS charged the centre to become a strategic hub for wargaming current and future operations, testing military doctrine and refining contingency plans.
He also directed the centre to draw continuously from lessons learned in operational theatres to identify weaknesses in existing plans and address capability gaps before they affect mission execution.
According to him, simulation-based training will not only boost combat readiness but also cut the financial and logistical burden associated with live exercises, including ammunition consumption and equipment wear.
Shaibu said the seminar, under the theme; “Harnessing Simulation Technologies to Strengthen Nigerian Army’s Roles across Joint, Multi-Agency and Combined Operational Environments,” was particularly relevant to his command philosophy.
He said the initiative aligned with the Operational Readiness pillar of his vision of transforming the Nigerian Army into a professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force.
The Army chief said the seminar’s mix of technical presentations, operational case studies and practical simulation exercises would equip participants with better tools for evaluating operational plans and predicting adversary behaviour.
He urged participants to translate the lessons into improved wargaming, operational planning, command decisions and battlefield outcomes.
Earlier, the Director-General of LFSCN, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Wabili, said emerging technologies were increasingly being exploited by both security forces and terrorist groups.
Wabili noted that robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles, artificial intelligence and simulation software were becoming more accessible because of their dual-use applications.
He said the development had made it imperative for the Army to continuously adapt its strategies and integrate emerging technologies to maintain an operational edge over its adversaries.
“The Land Forces Simulation Centre Nigeria is therefore in a unique position to employ advanced simulation software for continuous validation of operation plans and contingency plans,” he said.
Wabili said the seminar would draw on the operational experience and expertise of resource persons to examine the application of simulation technology from different perspectives.
The seminar, which ends on Thursday, is expected to produce practical methodologies and recommendations for strengthening simulation-based training and operational planning in the Nigerian Army.
Shaibu also inaugurated the Shooting Simulation Range at the centre.