By Nkechi Eze
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has unveiled a bold and forward-looking Command Philosophy designed to reposition the Nigerian Army as a highly professional, agile, combat-effective and resilient force, declaring that leadership rooted in character, courage and genuine concern for personnel remains critical to operational success in Nigeria’s complex security environment.
Lieutenant General Shaibu articulated the transformative vision on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, while delivering a lecture to participants of Senior Course 48 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, where he outlined the strategic direction intended to strengthen institutional capacity and enhance the Army’s effectiveness across all theatres of operation.
According to an official statement signed by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the Army Chief emphasised that effective leadership in today’s dynamic and volatile security climate must be anchored on strong moral character, professional courage and sincere commitment to the welfare of troops.
He noted that the Nigerian Army is currently engaged in an increasingly complex and multi-dimensional threat environment, with ongoing counterinsurgency, counterterrorism and internal security operations across all geopolitical zones of the country. These operational realities, he said, demand not only tactical competence but also sustained institutional strength and adaptability.
The COAS explained that the newly introduced Command Philosophy is designed to accelerate the transformation of the Nigerian Army into a force fully capable of decisively fulfilling its constitutional mandate, particularly within joint and multi-agency operational frameworks.
Highlighting the central role of innovation in modern warfare, Lieutenant General Shaibu described it as the engine of progress, while reaffirming resilience as the defining spirit of the Nigerian soldier. He stressed that with clarity of purpose and unity of effort, mission accomplishment must remain the unyielding guiding principle of the Service.
He further disclosed that the philosophy is built on five mutually reinforcing pillars encapsulated in the acronym PROSE, representing Professional Excellence, Robust Administration, Operational Readiness, Strategic Cooperation and Exemplary Leadership.
Lieutenant General Shaibu explained that these pillars are firmly anchored on a Soldier-First Culture, which prioritises personnel welfare, morale, training, dignity and empowerment as the foundation of combat effectiveness and institutional credibility.
The Army Chief also underscored that operational success goes beyond battlefield victories to include sustaining public confidence, strengthening civil-military relations and maintaining strict adherence to the rule of law.
Addressing the course participants, whom he described as the future operational and strategic leaders of the Nigerian Army, Lieutenant General Shaibu charged them to internalise the philosophy and translate its principles into measurable results across formations and units.
He noted that the introduction of the PROSE-driven Command Philosophy represents a decisive strategic shift for the Nigerian Army, reinforcing its resolve to balance ongoing internal security commitments with long-term force development, modernisation and institutional reform in response to Nigeria’s evolving security landscape.
