The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has linked the Nigerian Army’s expanding force structure to a growing need for stronger legal capacity, directing military lawyers to provide commanders with timely and operationally relevant advice as new formations and units assume responsibilities across the country.
Represented by the Chief of Administration (Army), Maj.-Gen. Isa Abdullahi, Shaibu gave the charge on October 6 while declaring open a specialised training workshop for officers of the Directorate of Legal Services (Army) in Abuja.
The COAS said the Army’s expansion and growing presence across emerging security flashpoints had broadened the responsibilities of commanders and legal advisers, making sound legal guidance increasingly important to effective military operations.
He stressed that force expansion was not simply about increasing formations, units and personnel, but also about strengthening the professional, administrative and institutional mechanisms required to sustain a disciplined, accountable and effective force.
The workshop, themed “The Role of Legal Officers in Advising Commanders on Compliance with International Humanitarian Law and Military Justice System,” is designed to strengthen the capacity of legal officers to advise commanders on civilian harm mitigation, protection of medical personnel and facilities, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, autonomous weapon systems and other evolving dimensions of modern warfare.
Shaibu emphasised that military necessity, humanity, distinction, proportionality and precaution must remain central to the conduct of operations, enabling the Army to pursue legitimate military objectives while protecting civilians and maintaining the legitimacy and public confidence required for sustained operations.
He said legal officers must be adequately prepared to support commanders at strategic, operational and tactical levels as newly established formations and units become operational.
The COAS added that effective legal support would help commanders translate constitutional provisions, applicable international law, statutory military frameworks and Rules of Engagement into lawful and decisive action in increasingly complex operational environments.
He described military lawyers as having a dual responsibility to safeguard discipline within the force while ensuring that the application of military power remained anchored on the rule of law.
Shaibu consequently identified stronger legal capacity as part of the wider transformation of the Nigerian Army into a professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force.
The Acting Director of Legal Services (Army), Col. Samson Okebukola, said the workshop would strengthen legal officers’ understanding of operational realities and their ability to provide appropriate guidance on International Humanitarian Law and military support to civil authorities.
Okebukola cited the Nigerian Army’s operations, including Operation HADIN KAI and Operation FANSAN YAMMA, as examples of the importance attached to adherence to International Humanitarian Law and the protection of fundamental rights under Chapter Four of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
He described military legal officers as “soldier-jurists” responsible for integrating legal considerations into operational planning, execution, discipline and accountability.
According to him, fair trial, procedural justice and the disciplined application of force remained essential to a credible military justice system and the legitimacy of military operations.
A statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, said the workshop formed part of efforts to strengthen the professional competence of Army legal officers as the service expands its formations, units and operational footprint.
