By Joy Odor Reportcircle News
In a decisive push to tighten civil–military coordination, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Richard Pheelangwa, on Thursday stormed the Army Headquarters in the nation’s capital, pledging sweeping administrative reforms and unwavering backing for Nigeria’s fighting forces.
The high-stakes familiarization visit to the Chief of Army Staff, General Waidi Shaibu, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja signalled what insiders describe as a renewed power alignment aimed at sharpening Nigeria’s combat edge.
Pheelangwa declared that the Ministry was poised to dismantle bureaucratic roadblocks that have slowed critical military processes.
From procurement transparency to budget performance and service delivery timelines, he assured that “administrative bottlenecks” would no longer stand in the way of operational effectiveness.
He reiterated the Ministry’s resolve to ensure seamless execution of capital projects and faster response to the Army’s needs, stressing that national security demands efficiency, accountability and speed.
“Our mandate is clear,” he said in firm tones. “The Armed Forces must be empowered to protect lives and secure the nation in the most effective and efficient manner.”
The Permanent Secretary underscored the Ministry’s commitment to improving troop welfare, strengthening human capital development and deepening engagement with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to drive local defence production and better outcomes for the military.
Responding, Lt. Gen. Shaibu pushed for an aggressive expansion of the military’s aviation wing, describing air power as a critical enabler for rapid response operations across volatile theatres.
He called for an increase in armed drones, stressing that modern warfare demands technological superiority and precision strike capability.
He also highlighted the pressing need for timely capital budget releases, improved accommodation for newly recruited troops, and the deployment of permanent teaching staff in defence schools warning that operational efficiency depends not only on weapons, but on structure, welfare and training.
The Army Chief, however, pledged full cooperation with the Ministry, affirming a united front in pursuing Nigeria’s broader national security objectives.
Top officials from the Ministry, including the Director of Press and Public Relations, the Director of Army Affairs, and senior Principal Staff Officers from Army Headquarters, witnessed the strategic engagement.
Thursday’s meeting may have been tagged a “familiarisation visit,” but its undertone was unmistakable reform, reinforcement and readiness.
In a season of complex security challenges, Abuja has signalled that the era of sluggish systems and fragmented coordination must give way to decisive action.
The battle for a stronger, faster and better-equipped military may have just entered a new phase.
