The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Wednesday charged senior commanders of the Nigerian Army to demonstrate strategic foresight, professional competence and exemplary leadership as the country grapples with increasingly complex security challenges.
Speaking while declaring open the Second Senior Command and Leadership Seminar 2026 at the Headquarters of 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, the COAS said contemporary military success depends not only on battlefield superiority but also on credibility, public confidence and effective leadership.
The seminar, themed “Strategic Leadership for Effective Command in an Evolving Security Environment,” brought together senior commanders and resource persons to strengthen leadership capacity, exchange operational experiences and develop practical approaches to contemporary command challenges.
According to the COAS, threats such as terrorism, insurgency, banditry, transnational organised crime, cyber threats, disruptive technologies and information warfare have continued to reshape the military’s operating environment. He called on commanders to remain intellectually agile, operationally innovative and morally courageous, and to exercise sound judgement under conditions of uncertainty.
Lieutenant General Shaibu placed particular emphasis on the information environment, warning that adversaries and other malign actors are increasingly relying on misinformation and the deliberate distortion of public perception to undermine military credibility. He directed commanders to factor the information space into campaign design, operational planning and the conduct of activities, insisting that every operational decision be backed by timely, accurate and credible communication.
He also stressed that professional conduct remains central to protecting the Army’s reputation and legitimacy, noting that no strategic communication effort can make up for indiscipline or unprofessional conduct in the field. He therefore directed commanders to enforce strict compliance with the Rules of Engagement, respect for human rights, protection of civilians and accountability at every level — pointing out that the actions of troops on the ground can carry consequences far beyond the immediate theatre of operations.
On the recent expansion of the Nigerian Army’s force structure from eight to twelve divisions, the COAS described the development as both an opportunity and a major leadership responsibility. He said the expansion goes beyond adding manpower and equipment, adding that senior commanders have a decisive role in shaping newly established formations into cohesive, credible and combat-ready units. The values commanders promote, the standards they enforce and the leaders they develop, he said, would determine the effectiveness of these formations for years to come.
The Army chief further urged participants to translate lessons from the seminar into concrete improvements in command, campaign planning, operational effectiveness, mentorship and institutional performance. He encouraged commanders to build cohesive teams, groom successors, empower subordinates, promote innovation, and deepen engagement with communities and legitimate stakeholders within their respective Areas of Responsibility.
