The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has tasked Commanding Officers across the Nigerian Army to take full ownership of combat readiness through professionalism, discipline, and effective tactical leadership within their respective formations.
The directive was delivered at the First Commanding Officers’ Workshop 2026 hosted by the Army Headquarters Garrison at the Army War College Nigeria, WU Bassey Barracks, Abuja, on 3 March 2026.
Represented by Major General Olusegun Abai at the opening ceremony, the COAS emphasized that effective tactical command depend on sound judgment, strict regimentation, and the ability to translate operational directives into measurable results on the ground. He stressed that Commanding Officers must entrench discipline, mentor junior leaders, conduct realistic and mission-oriented training, and uphold high standards of accountability and troop welfare.
Speaking in alignment with the workshop theme, “Enhancing Tactical Level Leadership in a Joint and Multi-Agency Environment,” Lieutenant General Shaibu reiterated his command philosophy of transforming the Nigerian Army into a professional, adaptable, combat-ready, and resilient force capable of decisively discharging its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency environment.
In his remarks, the Chief of Training (Army), Major General Valentine Okoro, described the workshop as a structured initiative aimed at reinforcing training excellence and strengthening operational standards across formations. He encouraged participants to leverage the platform to refine retraining methodologies, improve reporting accuracy, and enhance coordination with sister services and other security agencies.
Earlier, the Commander Army Headquarters Garrison, Major General Maxwell Dangana, noted that Nigeria’s evolving security landscape demands adaptive and mission-focused tactical leadership. He urged Commanding Officers to engage actively, share operational experiences, and strengthen inter-agency cooperation to enhance operational outcomes.
The workshop featured lecture presentations, interactive sessions, and professional engagements designed to consolidate tactical leadership capacity and improve overall operational effectiveness within the Nigerian Army.
