The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to a dynamic, intelligence-driven, and technology-enabled approach in confronting asymmetric threats to Nigeria’s national security.
The COAS made the assertion while delivering a lecture titled “Combating Asymmetric Threats to National Security in Nigeria: The Nigerian Army in Perspective” to participants of the National Defence College (NDC), Nigeria, Course 34.
General Shaibu observed that the contemporary global security environment has shifted from traditional state-centric warfare to complex intra-state conflicts dominated by non-state actors, including terrorists, insurgents, bandits, cybercriminals, and transnational organised crime networks.
These actors deliberately exploit governance gaps, societal vulnerabilities, and emerging technologies.
Muti-domain Strategy
In response, the COAS stated that the Nigerian Army has recalibrated its operational doctrine, force posture, and capability employment through a comprehensive multi-domain strategy.
This approach integrates decisive kinetic action with intelligence fusion, inter-agency cooperation, joint operations with sister services, and sustained international partnerships.
According to a statement issued by Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director Army Public Relations, the COAS emphasised that “Asymmetric threats thrive on adaptability, anonymity, and the targeting of civilians to erode public confidence and state authority.
Our response must therefore be equally adaptive, proactive, intelligence-led, and collaborative, leveraging military power alongside technology, whole-of-government coordination, and strategic partnerships.”
Degrade Terrorist Capabilities
He explained that Nigerian Army operations are tailored to prevailing threat dynamics across Nigeria’s geo-political zones. In the North-East, sustained counter-insurgency operations continue to degrade terrorist capabilities through offensive manoeuvres, intelligence-driven strikes, and population-centric stabilisation efforts.
In the North-West, joint operations have intensified pressure on bandit groups, disrupted logistics and financing networks, and strengthened protection of vulnerable communities.
In the North-Central region, stabilisation efforts focus on area domination, civilian protection, and containment of communal and militia-related violence.
The COAS highlighted the growing impact of advanced technologies, enhanced training regimes, and deeper jointness with sister services in improving situational awareness, operational reach, and mission effectiveness.
He stressed that national security now encompasses economic security, cyber resilience, environmental stability, and human security.
Justice Delivery
Enduring peace, he said, requires that military operations are reinforced by effective governance, justice delivery, and inclusive socio-economic development.
General Shaibu urged NDC Course 34 participants, described as Nigeria’s future strategic and operational leaders, to embrace integrated, forward-looking security frameworks that address both immediate manifestations and underlying drivers of conflict.
He reassured Nigerians of the Nigerian Army’s steadfast resolve to defend national sovereignty, protect lives and property, and secure critical national infrastructure as threats continue to evolve in form and complexity.