By Nkechi Eze
The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General W. Shaibu, NAM, has ordered far-reaching reforms across the Nigerian Army’s training, intelligence, operational and welfare frameworks, declaring that the force must rapidly evolve into a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient institution capable of meeting Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
Lieutenant General Shaibu made this known on Thursday while delivering his closing remarks at the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference 2025, held at Nebo Hall, Abalti Barracks, Lagos. His remarks were disclosed in an official statement signed by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele.
The Army Chief said the just-concluded conference provided a critical platform for a comprehensive review of the Nigerian Army’s operational and administrative performance in 2025, noting that the quality of deliberations and briefings would directly shape policies, reforms and actions in the year ahead.
According to him, the Nigerian Army will immediately begin a deliberate realignment of its training, operational, logistics and administrative processes in line with his Command Philosophy, which is aimed at accelerating the Army’s transformation and strengthening its capacity to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency operational environment.
As a major pillar of the reforms, the COAS announced a total overhaul of training curricula across all Nigerian Army training institutions. He stressed that realistic, mission-oriented training has a direct and measurable impact on operational effectiveness and battlefield success. He disclosed that Army Headquarters, through the Department of Training, would drive mission-specific training programmes with renewed emphasis on Special Forces and Army Aviation to achieve desired operational outcomes.
“The Nigerian Army will make informed but bold changes to its training and operational activities in the coming year, including deliberate interventions to enhance the capacity of the Special Forces institutions,” the COAS stated.
Lieutenant General Shaibu said intelligence briefings and operational updates presented during the conference highlighted the increasing complexity and dynamism of Nigeria’s security environment. He emphasised the urgent need to strengthen capabilities in Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance, ISTAR, cyber operations and technological innovation in order to stay ahead of evolving and asymmetric threats.
He added that the Army would continue to adapt, innovate and leverage the support of the nation’s political leadership in the acquisition of critical military hardware and software, while simultaneously fostering a culture of innovation and initiative at all levels of command.
On troops’ welfare, the COAS reaffirmed his commitment to addressing accommodation deficits across Nigerian Army barracks nationwide. He disclosed that all ongoing residential accommodation projects have been directed to be completed and allocated without delay, while new housing projects will be initiated across formations. He added that extensive renovation of existing facilities would be carried out as an interim measure to improve living conditions for personnel.
The Army Chief further assured that post-service housing for soldiers remains a top priority. He announced the commissioning of the Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers, AHOOAS, Akobo Project, as well as the Post-Service Housing Development Limited Shopping Complex in Ibadan, Oyo State, as part of efforts to guarantee dignity and stability for soldiers after retirement.
Lieutenant General Shaibu commended the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army) and the conference planning committee for the successful organisation of the event, while also praising participants for what he described as robust and unprecedented contributions that would significantly enrich future strategies and policy formulation.
He expressed the Nigerian Army’s deep appreciation to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his sustained support, reaffirming the Army’s unwavering loyalty to the President and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference 2025, which was declared open on Monday, 14 December 2025 by President Tinubu, brought together senior officers from Defence Headquarters as well as Nigerian Army formations and units nationwide to review operations, assess challenges and chart a clear course for the future of the Army.
