COAS Tasks Senior Commanders on Strategic Leadership Amidst Evolving Security Threats
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has tasked senior commanders of the Nigerian Army with strengthening strategic foresight, professional competence and exemplary leadership to effectively confront the country’s increasingly complex security challenges.
Shaibu gave the charge on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, while declaring open the Second Senior Command and Leadership Seminar 2026 at Headquarters 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna.
The seminar, themed “Strategic Leadership for Effective Command in an Evolving Security Environment,” brings together senior commanders and resource persons to enhance leadership capacity, share operational experiences and develop practical responses to emerging challenges in military command.
The COAS said the changing security environment, characterised by terrorism, insurgency, banditry, transnational organised crime, cyber threats, disruptive technologies and information warfare, requires commanders to remain intellectually agile, operationally innovative and morally courageous.
He stressed that contemporary military effectiveness extends beyond battlefield superiority to include credibility, public confidence, institutional legitimacy and effective leadership.
Shaibu particularly drew attention to the growing importance of the information environment, warning that adversaries and other malign actors increasingly exploit misinformation, deliberate distortion and manipulation of public perception to undermine military credibility and erode public trust.
He therefore urged commanders to incorporate information considerations into campaign design, operational planning and the conduct of military activities, while ensuring that operational decisions are supported by timely, accurate and credible communication.
The Army chief also emphasised the importance of professional conduct in preserving the reputation and legitimacy of the Nigerian Army.
He noted that no strategic communication effort could compensate for indiscipline or unprofessional conduct by troops in the field, directing commanders to enforce strict compliance with Rules of Engagement, respect for human rights, protection of civilians and accountability at all levels.
According to him, the conduct of troops could have consequences extending far beyond the immediate theatre of operations and could either strengthen or undermine public confidence in the military.
On the recent expansion of the Nigerian Army’s force structure from eight to 12 divisions, Shaibu described the development as both an opportunity and a significant leadership responsibility.
Read Also:
He explained that expanding the Army was not merely about increasing manpower and equipment but also about transforming the newly established formations into cohesive, credible and combat-ready fighting organisations.
The COAS said the standards commanders enforce, the values they promote and the leaders they develop would significantly influence the effectiveness and sustainability of the new formations.
He consequently urged participants to translate lessons from the seminar into tangible improvements in command, campaign planning, operational effectiveness, mentorship and institutional performance.
Shaibu also encouraged senior commanders to build cohesive teams, develop successors, empower subordinates, promote innovation and deepen engagement with communities and legitimate stakeholders within their respective areas of responsibility.
While declaring the seminar open, the COAS expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for his continued support for the Nigerian Army, particularly in personnel welfare, operational capability development and institutional transformation.
He said the approval for the expansion of the Army’s force structure demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s defence architecture and enhancing the military’s capacity to respond to evolving security threats.
Earlier, the Chief of Training (Army), Major General Valentine Okoro, described the seminar as an important capacity-building platform for strengthening the competencies of commanders at the operational and strategic levels.
Okoro said realistic, progressive and mission-oriented training remained central to the transformation of the Nigerian Army into a professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force capable of effectively discharging its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency operational environment.
In his welcome address, the General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Abubakar Wase, described the seminar as timely, noting that the changing character of warfare, asymmetric threats and rapid technological integration demanded resolute ethical leadership and strategic foresight.
He urged participants to ensure that deliberations during the seminar produced practical outcomes capable of strengthening military formations, improving decision-making and enhancing the overall operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army.
The seminar is expected to provide a platform for senior commanders to examine emerging security trends, assess command challenges and develop strategies for more effective leadership in Nigeria’s evolving security environment.
