The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu has said the effectiveness of the Nigerian Army would depend largely on the quality of leadership given by the commanders.
General Shaibu made this known in Kaduna on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the Second Senior Command and Leadership Seminar 2026 held at the Headquarters of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army.
Themed “Strategic Leadership for Effective Command in an Evolving Security Environment”, the seminar convened senior commanders and other stakeholders to discuss contemporary security challenges.
The COAS said that the seminar has emerged as an important professional platform for the senior Army leadership to reflect on the evolving demands of command, exchange operational experiences and strengthen leadership competencies.
The changing character of warfare, he said, requires commanders to continuously learn, unlearn and relearn, adapting leadership approaches to emerging realities.
“While equipment, technology and force structure remain key components of military capability, leadership ultimately determines how effectively such capabilities are employed,” he said.
Terrorism, insurgency, banditry, transnational organized crime, cyber assaults, disruptive technologies and information warfare were challenges reshaping military operations, the COAS said.
He urged commanders to be intellectually agile, operationally innovative, morally courageous and to be able to make sound decisions in uncertainty.
“Strategic leadership is not simply about exercising power; it is about commanders influencing organizational culture, developing future leaders, anticipating change, maintaining institutional credibility and aligning tactical actions with national objectives,” the COAS said.
General Shaibu also pointed to the rising threat of misinformation and malign influence operations, explaining that adversaries may attempt to undermine the military by eroding public confidence and distorting perceptions of its activities.
The COAS stressed the necessity of timely, accurate and credible communication. Military actions must be professional, lawful, duly documented and withstand scrutiny.
He further stressed the importance of discipline, respect for human rights, the protection of civilians and strict adherence to the rules of engagement, noting that tactical conduct could have strategic consequences.
The COAS directed the senior commanders to transform the newly formed formations into credible fighting organizations by maintaining high standards, nurturing leaders, fostering professionalism and building institutional resilience.
The Chief of Training (Army), Major General Valentine Okoro, earlier said the seminar provided a robust platform for capacity building and strengthening the competencies of commanders at operational and strategic levels.
He mentioned that the Department of Army Training will keep on working with the corps, formations and training institutions to ensure that realistic, progressive and mission-oriented training is developed for contemporary operational environments.
