On January 17, 2023, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), opened the first quarter 2023 simulation workshop and officially opened the Land Forces Simulation Center Nigeria (LFSCN) Giri Abuja.
In his remarks, the COAS expressed his gratitude to the Center’s leadership for developing a workshop theme that was so closely aligned with his vision for the Nigerian Army’s transformation.
The Chief of Army Staff emphasized that technology-assisted simulation training was a real enabler for preparing Nigerian Armed forces for present and upcoming operational problems.
Earlier The COAS has provided the center with both software and hardware equipment to make it operational, according to Major General Felix Omoigui, Director General of the Land Forces Simulation Center Nigeria. He added that MASA SWORD (robust war-gaming software), capable of covering the full range of Nigerian Army ongoing operations, was notable among the equipment.
He added that the COAS recently approved the purchase, installation, and setup of the VBS 4 program and the viewing center in his effort to make the center one of the greatest simulation training centers in Sub-Saharan Africa.
General Felix added that while plans were being made to purchase weapons and equipment simulators of various categories for the combat support corps, such as the armor and artillery, the Chief of Army Staff had also approved an 80-KVA solar-powered station for the center and had provided additional virtual firing simulator for NASI and Depot Nigerian Army.
He continued by saying that with these additions and others, the center would be able to perform the oversight duties that were required of it for the Corp Schools that had received equipment simulators, in addition to helping commanders of all combat arms, combat services, and combat support services of the Nigerian Army.
The simulation workshop, with the focus on “Using simulation technologies to strengthen Nigerian Army’s Operational Readiness and Doctrine in Peace and War periods,” was highlighted by General Omoigui as fitting in well with the vision of the Chief of Army Staff.
He added that the Simulation workshop set the tone for subsequent events in the center this year as it was the first training activity for the center’s training cycle for the year 2023.
It may be recalled that the Centre was established in March 2019 to use simulation technology to improve the operational readiness of the NA. The gift of souvenirs to the COAS, a history of the project’s highlights, a tour of the center’s facilities, and a group photo were the event’s highlights.
