By Elizabeth Tanko
Kaduna, Nigeria – The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has said that success in contemporary military operations will depend as much on mastery of the information environment and discipline as on battlefield superiority.
The COAS stated this on Wednesday, 26 August 2026, while declaring open the Second Senior Command and Leadership Seminar 2026 at Headquarters 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna.
Theme: “Strategic Leadership for Effective Command in an Evolving Security Environment.”
The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, in a statement on Wednesday, said Lt. Gen. Shaibu noted that terrorism, insurgency, banditry, cyber threats and transnational crime have fundamentally changed warfare
He urged Senior Commanders to be intellectually agile, operationally innovative and morally courageous, stressing that leadership now requires sound judgement under uncertainty.
“Credibility, public confidence and effective leadership are now as critical as combat power,” the COAS said.
The Army Chief warned that adversaries increasingly deploy misinformation, distortion and manipulation to erode public trust in the military.
He directed Commanders to integrate the information environment into campaign design, operational planning and execution, and to ensure all activities are supported by timely, accurate and credible communication.
“No amount of strategic communication can compensate for indiscipline or unprofessional conduct in the field,” he warned.
Lt. Gen. Shaibu ordered strict enforcement of the Rules of Engagement, respect for human rights, protection of civilians and accountability at all levels.
Speaking on the recent expansion of the Nigerian Army from 8 to 12 divisions, the COAS described it as a major leadership responsibility.
He said building the new formations into cohesive, credible and combat-ready units will depend on the values, standards and mentorship provided by Senior Commanders.
“The leaders you develop today will determine the effectiveness of these formations for years to come,” he told participants.
He also charged Commanders to translate lessons from the seminar into better command decisions, campaign planning, troop welfare and community engagement within their Areas of Responsibility.
Seminar Timely For Operational Readiness –
In his remarks, the Chief of Training (Army), Major General Valentine Okoro, described the seminar as a vital capacity-building platform to strengthen operational and strategic competencies.
The GOC 1 Division, Major General Abubakar Wase, said the seminar was timely given the rise of asymmetric threats and the rapid integration of technology in warfare.
The COAS also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his support in personnel welfare, capability development and approval of the Army’s force structure expansion.
“The Second Senior Command and Leadership Seminar 2026 is part of the Nigerian Army’s drive to build a professional, adaptive and resilient force. The deliberations are expected to produce practical outcomes that will strengthen formations, improve decision-making and enhance the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army across all theatres,” the statement concluded.
