The Nigerian Army Comprehensive Service Centre, commissioned in April 2025 by the then Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen OO Oluyede, and situated at the headquarters of the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps (NAAC), Bauchi, has officially become operational following its formal handover to the Nigerian Army.
The official handover of the Centre, which was established through a joint partnership with the Chinese establishment China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), was conducted on Thursday by the Chinese partners at the Centre and witnessed by top Army officers.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Major General C.A. Ekeator, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Army Comprehensive Service Centre, explained that the Centre was established as a result of the Nigerian Army’s partnership with NORINCO.
He added that its purpose is to carry out comprehensive maintenance at various levels, up to Level 4, of equipment supplied by NORINCO to the Nigerian Army. This includes major overhauls, replacement of major assemblies and retrofitting to return the equipment to operational fitness.
According to him, “Whatever might be the unserviceable state of the equipment being used in the field, once they are brought here, they will go back as new.”
On what the Centre will add to what is already available to the Nigerian Army, the MD said, “Well, this Service Centre will help to improve equipment availability to the Nigerian Army, particularly for ongoing operations in the North-East, North-West and across the country.”
He added that, “Apart from maintenance, this Centre is going to provide training for Nigerian Army personnel for equipment support activities in the field.”
“This Centre is capable of carrying out maintenance and overhaul of up to 20 vehicles at a time, and it cuts across various types of equipment, be it infantry vehicles, armoured vehicles or artillery pieces,” he added.
On sustainability, he stressed that, “Well, the efficiency of the equipment supplied by NORINCO to the Nigerian Army in the field is going to help foster that partnership. Because once this Service Centre comes on stream and is helping to maintain the equipment in the field, improving our operational efficiency, then definitely the Nigerian Army will want to procure more equipment from NORINCO.”
A representative of NORINCO stressed that, “The objective of this partnership is to further foster and enhance the relationship and friendship between Nigeria and China in general, and between the Nigerian Army and NORINCO in particular.”
According to him, “Through this partnership, we hope to strengthen cooperation, improve equipment support and maintenance, and further deepen the longstanding relationship between both countries and institutions.”
Earlier, during a courtesy call, the Commandant of the Nigerian Army Armour School (NAAS), Maj Gen Sunday Mokolo, commended the partnership, saying that it would go a long way towards ensuring that the Nigerian Army remains ready through the provision and upgrading of equipment.
He, however, stressed the importance of sustaining the partnership to ensure that the Centre meets the set objective of providing serviceable equipment for operations.