The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has commended Kogi State for “setting the pace for Nigerian security” with the acquisition of advanced surveillance technology, as he unveiled two PH-20 Unmanned Aerial Systems at the Chari Maigumeri Barracks in Lokoja.

The ceremony attracted top military commanders, heads of security agencies, traditional rulers, as well as religious and community leaders.

Represented by the Chief of Transformation and Innovation at Army Headquarters, Abuja, Major General Olusegun Abai, the Chief of Army Staff said the drones would significantly enhance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and strengthen military and security operations across the state.

He noted that the PH-20 drones, procured by the Kogi State Government through the Office of the National Security Adviser, would serve as force multipliers, improving situational awareness, operational reach and decision-making against terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.

Shaibu thanked Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for the “warm reception and confidence” reposed in the Nigerian Army, describing the initiative as a clear demonstration of the state’s commitment to complement federal security efforts.

He also highlighted the recent deployment of the 21 Battalion to Kogi as a strategic intervention that, combined with the new aerial assets, he said would enable more decisive and effective operations.

In his remarks, Governor Ododo described the acquisition as “a clear statement that the safety of the people of Kogi state remain his administration’s top priority.

He stressed that Kogi’s strategic position as a gateway between the North and South makes security not just a state concern but a national duty.