The Nigerian Army has unveiled a dynamic, intelligence-driven and technology-enabled strategy to tackle evolving security challenges across the country, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, announced on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
Speaking to participants of Course 34 at the National Defence College (NDC), Nigeria, during a strategic lecture titled “Combating Asymmetric Threats to National Security in Nigeria: The Nigerian Army in Perspective,” Lieutenant General Shaibu highlighted the shift from traditional state-centered conflicts to complex intra-state threats posed by terrorists, insurgents, bandits, cybercriminals and transnational crime networks.
“These groups exploit governance gaps, societal vulnerabilities, and emerging technologies to undermine public confidence and state authority,” the COAS said, adding that the Army’s response must be proactive, adaptive, and intelligence-led.
He explained that the Nigerian Army has recalibrated its operational doctrine and force posture through a multi-domain approach, combining decisive military action with intelligence fusion, inter-agency cooperation, joint operations with sister services, and strong international partnerships.
The COAS highlighted region-specific operations: sustained counter-insurgency in the North-East, intensified joint operations against bandits in the North-West, and stabilisation efforts in the North-Central region to protect civilians and contain communal conflicts.
Lieutenant General Shaibu also stressed the growing impact of advanced technologies, enhanced training, and deeper collaboration with sister services in improving operational effectiveness. He noted that modern national security encompasses not only territorial defence but also economic security, cyber resilience, environmental stability, and human security.
He urged NDC Course 34 participants, the nation’s future strategic leaders, to embrace integrated security frameworks that address both immediate threats and their root causes, and reassured Nigerians of the Army’s unwavering commitment to defending sovereignty, protecting lives, and securing critical national infrastructure.
