NSA Hails New Joint Doctrine and Welfare Centre to Revolutionize Military Collaboration
In a significant stride towards strengthening its defense capabilities, Nigeria has officially launched the Armed Forces of Nigeria Joint Doctrine and Welfare Centre in Abuja. This strategic initiative is poised to become a central hub for knowledge sharing, research and development, and innovation across the nation’s military services.
A Unified Approach to Modern Warfare
National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, speaking at the commissioning, emphasized the critical importance of “jointness” in modern warfare. “Developments in modern warfare have shown that jointness is the way forward,” Ribadu stated, urging all branches of the armed forces to embrace the concept of common learning and integrated operations. He highlighted that for perhaps the first time, all Nigerian security agencies are united in planning and execution, signaling a new era of cohesive national security efforts.
Ribadu lauded the current leadership of the Armed Forces for their innovative approach, which he believes is driving positive change across the country. He extended commendations to the ministers, the Chief of Defence Staff, all Service Chiefs, their teams, and all stakeholders who tirelessly worked to bring this vision to fruition.
Forging a Cohesive Fighting Force
General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff and Chairman of ECOWAS, reinforced the center’s pivotal role. He stated the center will serve as a convergence point for collective military intellect, where doctrines guiding joint operations will be developed, refined, and codified.
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“We will analyze emerging threats, experiment with innovative tactics, and prepare the forces to operate as one cohesive unit, regardless of their service affiliations,” General Musa affirmed. He emphasized that the center will foster continuous learning, critical thinking, and inter-service dialogue, effectively breaking down traditional silos between the Army, Navy, and Air Force. This will allow all branches to understand and leverage each other’s strengths for overwhelming superiority.
General Musa also revealed plans to extend collaboration to other security agencies, recognizing that combating modern threats like insurgency requires a unified national effort beyond just the military. “It is not only a military thing, it is a Nigerian thing, and we want all Nigerians to take ownership of this,” he declared. He acknowledged that the establishment of the center was a challenging endeavor that, at one point, seemed impossible, but sustained focus and collaboration made it a reality.
Addressing Operational Gaps
Major General Emeka Onumajuru, Chief of Defence Operations, explained that the center’s establishment directly addresses inherent challenges in some joint operational areas that require an integrated defense doctrine and supporting structures. “It is this gap that the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre seeks to fill,” he noted, aligning with the leadership concepts of the Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs to operate in a joint environment.
Today marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s military history, particularly in the development of joint warfare and military capabilities. The center is designed to be the central point for developing, harmonizing, and reviewing joint doctrines, guiding operations across all domains of warfare, and fostering crucial interoperability among the services.
By PRNigeria
