The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General W. Shaibu, Nigerian Army Medal, has ordered far-reaching reforms in training, intelligence operations and troops’ welfare as part of efforts to reposition the Nigerian Army for greater professionalism, adaptability and combat readiness.
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.
He said the conference provided a critical platform to comprehensively review the Nigerian Army’s operational and administrative performance in 2025, noting that deliberations and resolutions reached would guide policies and actions in the coming year.
According to the COAS, the Army will immediately realign its training, operational, logistics and administrative frameworks with his Command Philosophy, aimed at transforming the force and strengthening its capacity to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency environment.
As part of the reforms, Shaibu announced a total overhaul of training curricula across all Nigerian Army training institutions, stressing that realistic and mission-oriented training directly impacts operational effectiveness and success. He said the Army Headquarters, through the Department of Training, would lead mission-specific training programmes, with increased emphasis on Special Forces and Army Aviation.
“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 Special Forces institutions,” he said.
The Army Chief noted that intelligence briefings and operational updates presented at the conference highlighted the increasing complexity of Nigeria’s security environment. He emphasised the need to strengthen capabilities in Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR), cyber operations and technological innovation to effectively counter emerging threats.
He added that the Army would continue to adapt and innovate while leveraging the support of the nation’s political leadership in the procurement of critical military hardware and software, alongside fostering a culture of innovation at all levels.
On troops’ welfare, the COAS reaffirmed his commitment to addressing accommodation challenges across Nigerian Army barracks nationwide. He disclosed that all ongoing residential accommodation projects had been directed to be completed and allocated without delay, while new housing projects would be initiated across various formations. He added that extensive renovation works would also be carried out as an interim measure.
Lieutenant General Shaibu further assured that post-service housing for soldiers remains a top priority, announcing the commissioning of the Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOOAS) Akobo Project and the Post-Service Housing Development Limited Shopping Complex in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The COAS commended the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), the conference planning committee and participants for what he described as robust and unprecedented contributions that would enrich future strategies and policy formulation.
He also expressed the Nigerian Army’s appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for his sustained support, reaffirming the Army’s 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, December 14, 2025, by the President, attracted participants from across the Defence Headquarters and Nigerian Army formations and units nationwide.
