{
  "id": 9768612,
  "title": "COAS urges new officers to stay combat-ready",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/coas-urges-new-officers-to-stay-combat-ready",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-25T13:12:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/coas-urges-new-officers-to-stay-combat-ready/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has urged newly commissioned officers of the Direct Short Service Course (DSSC) 29/2026 to maintain operational readiness and provide professional and decisive leadership as the Nigerian Army expands its manpower and force structure. Shaibu emphasized that increased manpower alone would not guarantee improved security outcomes without competent leadership capable of making sound and timely decisions, particularly under demanding operational conditions. He charged the officers to remain combat-ready regardless of their professional specializations, noting that military service could require them to undertake combat and other operational responsibilities whenever duty called.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "COAS urges new officers to stay combat-ready",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/coas-urges-new-officers-to-stay-combat-ready-9771498",
        "published": "2026-09-25T13:40:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}