By Joy Odor
Nigeria’s military doctrine is set for a major recalibration as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General W. Shaibu, ordered sweeping reforms across training, intelligence, operations and troop welfare, signalling a decisive shift toward a leaner, smarter and more combat-ready Nigerian Army.
The directives were unveiled on Thursday at the close of the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference 2025, held at Nebo Hall, Abalti Barracks, Lagos, a four-day strategic retreat that brought together senior commanders from across formations and theatres of operation.
“This conference was not ceremonial,” Shaibu told officers in his closing address. “It was a hard look at how we fought, how we supported our troops and how we must now change.
According to the Army Chief, deliberations at the conference exposed gaps in training alignment, intelligence integration and administrative efficiency shortcomings he said must be corrected immediately.
He announced that the Nigerian Army will begin realigning its training, operational, logistics and administrative structures with his Command Philosophy, aimed at transforming the force into a professional, adaptive and resilient institution capable of operating effectively in joint and multi-agency environments.
“The outcomes of this conference will guide our policies and actions in the coming year,” he said.
At the heart of the reform is a total overhaul of training curricula across all Nigerian Army institutions.
Shaibu said outdated and generic training models would give way to realistic, mission-oriented programmes directly tied to operational requirements.
“Training drives success on the battlefield,” he said. “There is a direct link between how we train and how we win.”
Army Headquarters, through the Department of Training, will now lead mission-specific programmes, with a strong push to strengthen Special Forces institutions and Army Aviation, two capabilities the Army views as decisive in modern counterterrorism and asymmetric warfare.
Briefings at the conference, Shaibu revealed, underscored the increasingly complex and technology-driven nature of Nigeria’s security threats.
In response, the Army Chief ordered expanded investments in:
Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR)
Cyber operations
Military technology and innovation
He said future operations will rely less on manpower alone and more on information dominance, precision and speed.
“The Army must think faster than its adversaries,” he warned.
Beyond equipment acquisition, Shaibu emphasised the need for a cultural shift within the force.
He pledged continued engagement with the nation’s political leadership to secure critical military hardware and software, while simultaneously encouraging home-grown innovation within the ranks.
“We must innovate at every level,” he said. “Not just in procurement, but in thinking.”
On welfare, the COAS struck a firm tone, describing soldiers’ living conditions as a combat multiplier.
He ordered the immediate completion and allocation of all ongoing residential accommodation projects across Army barracks nationwide and approved the initiation of new housing projects across formations.
As an interim step, extensive renovations of existing facilities will be undertaken to close accommodation gaps.
Post-service welfare also featured prominently. Shaibu announced the commissioning of the Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOOAS) Akobo Project and the Post-Service Housing Development Limited Shopping Complex in Ibadan, Oyo State—initiatives designed to ensure stability for soldiers after active service.
The Army Chief commended the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army) and the conference planning committee for what he described as an “exceptionally productive” conference, praising participants for candid, solution-driven contributions.
He also expressed the Army’s appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who opened the conference on December 14, for sustained political and material support.
“The Nigerian Army remains unwavering in its loyalty to the President and the Constitution,” Shaibu said.
As the conference closed, one message was unmistakable: the Nigerian Army is entering 2026 with a new playbook, one that prioritises sharper training, deeper intelligence, better welfare and a force structure built not just to fight, but to adapt and endure.
