Army to Review Doctrine, Leadership Training as Warfare Evolves — COAS

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu, says the Nigerian Army will continue to review its doctrine and leadership training to keep pace with the changing nature of warfare and the increasingly complex security challenges confronting the country.

He stated this while speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Doctrine and Combat Development Leadership Seminar, organised by the Training and Doctrine Command of the Nigerian Army (TRADOC NA), in Minna on Tuesday 8 Sep 26.

He also commissioned housing and other projects executed under the Chief of Army Staff intervention projects.

Represented by the Director General, Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Abuja, Maj Gen Tariweriye Gagariga, the Chief of Army Staff said military doctrine must not become static, stressing that lessons from contemporary operations should continually be translated into training, leadership practices and combat development.

According to him, the seminar, themed “Enhancing Doctrinal Development in the Nigerian Army for Effective Leadership Training and Operations in a Joint Environment,” is focused on strengthening leadership development and preparing personnel for modern military operations.

The Chief of Army Staff underscored the need to continuously examine the Army’s operational experiences, identify lessons and incorporate relevant innovations into its doctrine and training systems.

He added whether deployed in conventional warfare, asymmetric operations, counter-terrorism, peace-support missions or other complex environments, commanders must be able to establish effective relationships across organisational boundaries.

He charged participants to ensure that the knowledge and recommendations generated at the seminar translate into practical improvements in their formations and units.

The Chief of Army Staff also commissioned housing and water projects initiated and completed under the Chief of Army Staff intervention projects 2026 in line with his Soldier First Concept.

The projects commissioned include newly renovated 6 units of Single Officer’s Quarters, 7 x 12 Family Corporal and Below Quarters (84 flats) as well as 11 boreholes with 20,000 Litres overhead tanks at the Minna Army Barrack. While 8 additional units of Single Officer’s Quarters are undergoing renovation and new 3 x 12 Family Corporal and Below Quarters (36 flats) are being constructed respectively.

While welcoming participants to the seminar, the Commander, TRADOC NA, Maj Gen Peter Malla, emphasised the need for continuous improvement in military doctrine and leadership training to enhance the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army.

Maj Gen Malla said that, the seminar was particularly timely as the Nigerian Army continues its transformation towards becoming a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force capable of effectively discharging its constitutional responsibilities in a joint and multi-agency environment in tandem with the Command Philosophy of the Chief of Army Staff.

He noted that the evolving character of warfare, driven by unmanned systems, emerging technologies, information operations, cyber capabilities and asymmetric methods, requires competent and adaptable leaders guided by relevant doctrine.

According to him, the recent expansion of the Nigerian Army, including the establishment of four additional divisions, has increased the need for effective command and control, standardisation, interoperability and doctrinal coherence across formations.

Maj Gen Malla noted that the seminar would provide participants with an opportunity to identify doctrinal gaps, examine lessons from contemporary operations, and strengthen leadership development and interoperability.