The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, says the Nigerian Army’s expansion from eight to 12 divisions and planned recruitment of 28,000 additional soldiers require stronger leadership capacity, tactical competence and operational readiness.
Shaibu gave the charge on Friday, 25 September 2026, while addressing newly commissioned officers of Direct Short Service Course 29/2026 at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry Parade Ground, Jaji, Kaduna State.
The officers formally joined the Army’s officer corps after six months of intensive military training.
The Chief of Army Staff said the expansion, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presented an opportunity to strengthen the Army’s operational reach, but also placed greater responsibility on officers to translate increased manpower and force structure into effective combat capability.
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He stressed that increased numbers alone would not guarantee improved security outcomes without competent leadership capable of making sound and timely decisions under demanding operational conditions.
Shaibu therefore charged the new officers to provide purposeful, professional and decisive leadership, while ensuring that mission accomplishment and troop welfare remained central to their responsibilities.
The Army chief reminded the officers that rank conferred authority but did not, by itself, secure the confidence of soldiers.
He urged them to lead by personal example and earn the trust of their troops through character, integrity, competence and fairness, while placing service above personal interest.
Lieutenant General Shaibu also cautioned the officers against treating their professional specialisations as limits to their operational responsibilities.
He tasked them to remain combat-ready and prepared to undertake combat and other operational duties whenever required, while continually developing their tactical competence, maintaining physical fitness and pursuing professional education.
The COAS further urged the officers to embrace emerging technologies shaping contemporary warfare, including unmanned systems, surveillance capabilities, intelligence fusion and digital communications.
Beyond individual military competence, Shaibu emphasised the importance of jointness and inter-agency cooperation in addressing Nigeria’s complex security environment.
He tasked the officers with developing effective professional relationships with the sister Services, Nigeria Police Force, intelligence agencies, paramilitary organisations and other relevant stakeholders.
According to the Army chief, operational synergy, intelligence sharing and coordinated action remained critical to achieving mission objectives and protecting civilians.
The commissioning of DSSC 29/2026 added another cadre of professionally trained officers to an Army undergoing simultaneous expansion in manpower, formations and operational responsibilities.
Shaibu charged the officers to justify the nation’s investment in their training through competence, discipline, loyalty and dedicated service.
He urged them to leave Jaji ready to accept responsibility, provide solutions rather than excuses, and lead their soldiers with courage, fairness and professionalism as the Nigerian Army strengthened its capacity to confront contemporary and emerging security threats.
