By Joy Odor Reportcircle News
In a clear break from Nigeria’s long-standing firepower-driven security culture, the nation’s top military leadership on Monday declared that battlefield victories without civilian trust are hollow, as the Armed Forces formally reposition human security and gender inclusion as core pillars of modern warfare.
The new direction was unveiled at the opening of the Human Security and Gender Advisers Course at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Abuja, where senior Defence Chiefs, Security Agencies and international partners converged to signal what insiders described as a quiet but far-reaching reset of Nigeria’s security doctrine.
Speaking through the Chief of Defence Standards and Evaluation, Major General Ibrahim Lassa, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede said Nigeria’s security challenges have outgrown conventional military thinking and now demand a people-centred, trust-based approach.
“This is no longer just about defending territory,” Oluyede declared. “It is about protecting people, preserving human dignity and strengthening societal resilience.”
Against the backdrop of insurgency, violent extremism, communal violence, transnational crime and recurring humanitarian crises, the CDS warned that kinetic operations alone cannot secure lasting peace.
According to him, operational success is now inseparable from the confidence and cooperation of the civilian population.
“Human security is central to mission success,” he said, stressing that legitimacy and public trust have become as decisive as weapons and troop strength on today’s battlefield.
The Defence Chief explained that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) now recognises that preventing conflict, addressing root causes and collaborating with civilian institutions are critical to winning modern wars.
Oluyede linked the course directly to his strategic command philosophy, which prioritises enhanced joint operations, improved welfare, sound administration and a whole-of-government approach to national security.
Under this evolving doctrine, he said, the Armed Forces are being repositioned not only as a combat-ready force, but as one that is ethically grounded, culturally sensitive and responsive to the realities of the communities where troops operate.
“Human security and gender considerations are not optional extras,” the CDS emphasised. “They are force multipliers that reinforce legitimacy, extend operational reach and guarantee mission sustainability.”
The CDS also acknowledged the sustained support of the British Defence Staff and the British Army Outreach Group, describing the collaboration as evidence of the enduring defence partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
He noted that British support has significantly enhanced Nigeria’s capacity in civil-military cooperation and contemporary security practices.
“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to modern, people-centred approaches to national and regional security,” Oluyede said.
‘You are agents of change’
Addressing course participants drawn from different security agencies, the CDS charged them to translate classroom lessons into operational realities from planning rooms to field deployments and engagements with civilians.
“You are not here merely for personal development,” he told them. “You are being equipped as agents of institutional change within the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
He reaffirmed the military’s commitment to a security architecture that protects lives, promotes dignity and strengthens national cohesion, describing the course as a critical step in aligning Nigeria’s defence posture with global best practices.
On his behalf, Major General Lassa formally declared the course open.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chief of Defence Civil-Military Relations, Rear Admiral Saburi Abba Lawal, reinforced the CDS’s position, describing the programme as both an honour and a responsibility.
Jointly organised by Defence Headquarters in collaboration with the British Defence Staff, the course will run from January 26 to February 4, 2026, and brings together selected personnel from the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
“This course marks another milestone in the enduring defence cooperation between Nigeria and the United Kingdom,” Lawal said, noting that the partnership has played a crucial role in strengthening professionalism across Nigeria’s security institutions.
Speaking on behalf of the CDS, Lawal said modern security challenges now require more than tactical competence, demanding a deep understanding of human security, gender perspectives and civil-military engagement.
“These partnerships ensure our personnel are better equipped to operate effectively, responsibly and professionally in today’s complex security environment,” he said.
He told participants they were deliberately selected because of the strategic advisory roles they are expected to play across their respective services, stressing that their responsibilities extend beyond internal operations.
“You are key to enhancing professionalism, inter-agency cooperation and public trust,” Lawal said.
Lawal urged participants to approach the course with openness and commitment, noting that the knowledge, skills and networks acquired would shape operational decisions and field engagements long after the training ends.
The Human Security and Gender Advisers Course is designed to deepen understanding of civilian protection, inclusive security planning and ethical conduct, at a time Nigeria grapples with a volatile mix of insurgency, criminality and social tensions.
Defence authorities insist that strengthening civil-military relations is no longer optional, but central to mission success and long-term stability.
As Lawal concluded, the message from Abuja was unmistakable: Nigeria’s wars will no longer be measured by territory captured alone, but by lives protected, dignity preserved and trust earned.
