COAS to prioritise personnel training for improved operational outcomes

COAS to prioritise personnel training for improved operational outcomes

Lagos, Dec. 19, 2025

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has said that more emphasis will be placed on training of personnel to achieve desired operational outcomes.

Shaibu said this on Thursday at the closing ceremony of the COAS Annual Conference 2025 which held on Dec. 15 to Dec. 18 at Nebo Hall, Abalti Barracks, Ojuelegba, Lagos State.

He said that the conference was to serve as a medium to critically assess the Nigerian Army’s operational and administrative performance throughout 2025 with a view to consolidating plans for 2026.

“Arising from our deliberations, the Nigerian Army will immediately begin to rejig its training, operations and other administrative and logistics concerns.

“This is to further align with my command philosophy which aims to advance the transformation of the Nigerian Army into a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force capable of decisively discharging its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency environment.

“Going forward, my grand plan for a total overhaul of our schools’ training curricula will be codified as I believe that realistic training directly influences operational outcomes,” Shaibu said.

He said that Army Headquarters, through its Department of Training, would drive mission-specific and focused training while carrying out a holistic review of the training in all Nigerian Army schools.

“We shall be making radical but informed changes to our training and operational activities in 2026 for the Special Forces School to optimally conduct its training,” the COAS said.

According to Shaibu, the intelligence brief during the conference affirmed that the army operating environment was increasingly becoming more complex.

“This evolving threat spectrum necessitates that we enhance our capabilities in intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance, as well as in cyber operations.

“In addition, current regional dynamics with the attendant instability coupled with the global shifts in the character of warfare, requires that we continuously learn, adapt and innovate at all levels.

“While we play our part as an army, we will continue to leverage on the timely interventions of our country’s political leadership for our military hard and software procurement,” he said.

The COAS said that the army would continue to advance the promotion of a culture of innovation and technological integration at all levels.

“In line with our welfare commitments, I shall continue to build on the efforts of past Chiefs of Army Staff in addressing the crisis of accommodation shortages.

“I have directed that all ongoing residential accommodation projects be completed in good time and allocated to personnel, while new ones are to be initiated across barracks in all the Divisions.

“As a stopgap measure, the Nigerian Army will be investing in a more comprehensive spread of renovation works in all our barracks,” Shaibu said.

He said that while efforts aimed at alleviating existing accommodation shortfalls was ongoing, he would continue to strike a balance by also securing post-service housing for our soldiers.

“As part of my commitment to this major welfare drive, I will be in Ibadan, Oyo State tomorrow for the commissioning of our Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers, Akobo Project and the Post-Service Housing Development Limited Shopping Complex in Eleyele.

“Under my watch, the post-service housing needs of our soldiers will continue to be a top priority, with due attention being given to the completion of ongoing projects.

“It is envisaged that these schemes, as part of my broader commitment to troops’ welfare, will eventually alleviate the post-service housing challenges of our soldiers,” the COAS said.

Shaibu commended and congratulated the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army) and his team for their efforts in organising the conference.

He also extended his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his unflinching and sustained support to the Nigerian Army.

“I assure Mr President and the entire nation of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to the defence and security of our country.

“I also reaffirm the unalloyed loyalty of the entire Nigerian Army to the Commander-in-Chief and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the COAS said.