The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has underscored the need for stronger psychological and influence operations as critical non-kinetic tools for preventing conflict, countering misinformation and building national resilience against Nigeria’s evolving security threats.
The call was made at the Defence Headquarters Psychological Operations Workshop 2026, held from July 22 to 24 in Abuja, with the theme: “Building National Resilience: The Role of Influence Operations in Conflict Prevention and Stabilisation.”
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Representing the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, the Chief of Defence Training, Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye, said today’s security environment extends far beyond conventional warfare, as terrorists and criminal groups increasingly weaponise misinformation, propaganda and social divisions to erode public confidence and weaken national cohesion.
He said the Armed Forces of Nigeria recognises that military operations alone cannot guarantee lasting peace, stressing that a coordinated whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach involving security agencies, government institutions, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, the media and local communities is essential.
Adversarial Propaganda
According to him, influence operations are not only about countering adversarial propaganda but also about shaping positive attitudes, promoting peaceful coexistence, strengthening public confidence and preventing conflicts before they escalate.
Rear Admiral Ogunleye urged participants to develop practical and actionable recommendations that would strengthen inter-agency collaboration and enhance Nigeria’s capacity for conflict prevention and stabilisation.
Declaring the workshop open on behalf of the Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Salihu Dembos, the Director of News, Halima Musa, commended the Armed Forces for integrating kinetic and non-kinetic approaches in addressing insecurity.
She noted that terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes and separatist agitations have been compounded by the widespread use of misinformation and disinformation across digital platforms.
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According to her, influence operations have become indispensable for reducing tensions, rebuilding trust, countering extremist narratives and supporting reconciliation in conflict-affected communities.
She urged participants to develop sustainable strategies capable of strengthening national resilience and promoting lasting peace across the country.
Delivering the keynote address, the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, described information as a decisive battlefield in modern conflicts.
He said today’s wars are increasingly fought through narratives, perceptions and public trust rather than weapons alone, adding that military successes can only be sustained when accompanied by credible communication that earns public confidence and denies hostile actors the information advantage.
Quoting renowned military strategists Sun Tzu and Carl von Clausewitz, Ndace emphasised that strategic communication has become a critical component of national security.
He warned that artificial intelligence-driven disinformation, fake news and coordinated online influence campaigns pose significant threats that require closer collaboration among government institutions, security agencies, the media, academia, technology platforms and civil society.
The VON Director-General stressed that influence operations must be anchored on truth, credibility, transparency and consistency, noting that public trust remains the strongest currency in any communication campaign.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Director of Psychological Operations, Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Cajetan Nnabuchi, said the workshop was designed to deepen understanding of the cognitive and informational dimensions of modern conflict.
He observed that while kinetic operations remain necessary, lasting peace requires deliberate efforts to counter harmful narratives, strengthen social cohesion and promote national unity through coordinated influence operations.
Nnabuchi said the workshop would examine strategies, doctrines and institutional frameworks needed to strengthen psychological operations and improve collaboration among security agencies, government institutions, academia, civil society organisations and the media.
He expressed confidence that the workshop would produce practical recommendations to enhance conflict prevention, peacebuilding and stabilisation while strengthening Nigeria’s resilience against emerging security threats.
The three-day workshop brought together participants from the Armed Forces of Nigeria, intelligence and security agencies, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), academia, civil society organisations and the media to deepen national collaboration in strategic communication and influence operations.
