COAS tasks army commanders on strategic leadership, public confidence
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has urged senior commanders of the Nigerian Army to show strategic foresight, professional competence and exemplary leadership in addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
Shaibu gave the charge on Wednesday while declaring open the Second Senior Command and Leadership Seminar 2026 at the Headquarters of 1 Division Nigerian Army in Kaduna.
The seminar, themed, “Strategic Leadership for Effective Command in an Evolving Security Environment,” brought together senior commanders and resource persons to strengthen leadership capacity, share operational experiences and develop practical responses to contemporary command challenges.
The army chief said military success in the current security environment depended on more than battlefield strength.
“Contemporary military success depends not only on battlefield superiority but also on credibility, public confidence and effective leadership,” Shaibu said.
He noted that terrorism, insurgency, banditry, transnational organised crime, cyber threats, disruptive technologies and information warfare were reshaping military operations, urging commanders to remain “intellectually agile, operationally innovative and morally courageous.”
Shaibu also warned that adversaries and other malign actors were increasingly using misinformation, distortion and manipulation of public perception to damage the credibility of the military.
“Commanders must factor the information environment into campaign design, operational planning and the conduct of activities,” he said, adding that military operations must be backed by “timely, accurate and credible communication.”
The COAS stressed that discipline and professional conduct remained vital to preserving the Nigerian Army’s reputation and legitimacy, saying strategic communication could not cover up misconduct by troops.
“No strategic communication effort can compensate for indiscipline or unprofessional conduct in the field,” he said.
He directed commanders to ensure strict compliance with Rules of Engagement, respect for human rights, protection of civilians and accountability at all levels, noting that the actions of personnel could have consequences beyond the immediate theatre of operations.
On the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions, Shaibu described the development as both an opportunity and a major leadership responsibility.
“Expanding the Army goes beyond increasing manpower and equipment.
“Senior commanders have a decisive role in transforming newly established formations into cohesive, credible and combat-ready fighting organisations,” he said.
He said the values commanders promoted, the standards they enforced and the leaders they developed would determine the long-term effectiveness of the new formations.
Shaibu urged participants at the seminar to translate its lessons into improvements in command, campaign planning, operational effectiveness, mentorship and institutional performance.
He also called on commanders to build cohesive teams, develop successors, empower subordinates, encourage innovation and deepen engagement with communities and legitimate stakeholders within their areas of responsibility.
