The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has charged commanders and senior officers of the Nigerian Army to continually review and adapt operational strategies to effectively tackle emerging and evolving security threats across the country.
Shaibu gave the charge on Monday when he declared open the Chief of Army Staff First Bi-Annual Conference 2026 in Abuja.
The Army Chief said the nation’s security environment had become increasingly complex and dynamic, requiring proactive leadership, innovation and enhanced operational capabilities.
According to him, contemporary military operations can no longer rely solely on conventional approaches due to the evolving tactics adopted by terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.
He stressed the need for the Nigerian Army to remain flexible and adaptive in responding to security challenges threatening national peace and stability.
“The evolving security environment demands that we continuously review and improve our operational strategies to remain ahead of those threatening the peace and stability of our country,” he said.
“We must remain proactive, resilient and innovative in addressing these security challenges.”
Shaibu said the conference was strategically designed to assess operational realities across various theatres of operation and develop practical responses to emerging threats.
He noted that commanders and senior officers were expected to critically evaluate existing operational methods and identify areas requiring strategic adjustments.
The COAS also underscored the importance of enhanced collaboration within the joint and multi-agency environment, noting that no single security agency could independently address Nigeria’s security challenges without effective synergy and intelligence sharing.
He further highlighted the significance of realistic, mission-oriented training programmes in improving troop preparedness and operational efficiency.
According to him, Army Headquarters has continued to prioritise troop training, logistics support and operational capability development to strengthen the force.
Shaibu said the Army remained committed and focused on building a combat-ready force capable of responding decisively to contemporary security threats.
He stressed that discipline and strict adherence to rules of engagement were essential to sustaining operational credibility and strengthening public trust.
The Army Chief added that improved professionalism among troops had positively impacted civil-military relations and enhanced the Army’s reputation nationally and internationally.
Shaibu urged officers and soldiers to uphold the core values of discipline, loyalty, courage and selfless service in all operational engagements.
He also tasked participants at the conference with contributing meaningfully toward developing practical and sustainable solutions to the nation’s security challenges.
The COAS assured Nigerians that the Army would continue to work closely with other security agencies to protect lives and property across the country.
He expressed confidence that deliberations at the conference would further reposition the Nigerian Army to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities.
