By Nkechi Eze
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Richard Pheelangwa, has reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting the Nigerian Army in achieving its constitutional mandate, as he paid a strategic familiarisation visit to the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
The visit, which took place on Thursday, February 26, 2026, was aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration and enhancing civil-military synergy between the Ministry of Defence and the Nigerian Army.
In an official signed statement, the Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations, Enderline Chukwu, disclosed that the Permanent Secretary explained that the engagement was designed to deepen institutional relationships and improve administrative coordination with the Army.
Pheelangwa reiterated the Ministry’s resolve to address administrative bottlenecks, ensure improved budgetary performance and execution, guarantee timely service delivery, and promote transparent procurement processes within the defence sector. He stressed that the Ministry remains committed to providing the necessary policy and administrative backing to enable the Armed Forces to effectively protect lives and property.
He further highlighted the Ministry’s focus on personnel welfare and human capital development, as well as ongoing engagements with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria to strengthen local defence production capacity and achieve more sustainable outcomes.
In his response, the Chief of Army Staff emphasized the need to expand the Army’s aviation wing to enhance rapid response capabilities and operational effectiveness. He described aviation assets as critical enablers in modern military operations and called for an increase in the number of armed drones to improve surveillance and precision engagements.
Lt. Gen. Shaibu also underscored the importance of timely release of capital budget allocations, adequate accommodation for newly recruited personnel, and the deployment of permanent teaching staff to defence schools, noting that these measures are essential to improving combat efficiency and overall operational readiness.
He assured the Permanent Secretary of the Nigerian Army’s full cooperation with the Ministry of Defence in advancing shared national security objectives.
Senior officials from both the Ministry and Army Headquarters, including the Director of Press and Public Relations, the Director of Army Affairs, and other Principal Staff Officers, were present at the meeting.
The engagement reflects ongoing efforts to reinforce coordination between civil authorities and the military in strengthening Nigeria’s defence architecture and enhancing operational performance.
