The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Retired), has urged the Nigerian Army to strengthen joint operations and enhance professionalism.
General Musa also urged the Army to ensure that strategic deliberations translate into concrete actions to address the country’s evolving security challenges.
He gave the advice while delivering the opening address at the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference 2025 which took place in Lagos.
He described the annual forum as “a vital opportunity for reviewing the Army’s operational posture, assessing readiness and aligning its future direction with national security priorities.”
“This annual engagement remains a vital strategic forum for the Nigerian Army to review its operational posture, assess its readiness and professionalism, and align its future direction with national security priorities,” the Defence Minister said.
General Musa also said that the conference provides senior commanders and key stakeholders with a platform to reflect on lessons learned from ongoing operations, examine emerging threats and develop practical responses aimed at strengthening the Army’s capacity to discharge its constitutional responsibilities effectively.
He stressed that the importance of the conference cannot be overstated, especially in view of Nigeria’s complex and dynamic security environment, which remains characterised by terrorism, banditry, criminality and other asymmetric threats.
“Nigeria continues to face… asymmetric threats that require sustained focus, strategic clarity and adaptive leadership,” General Musa noted.
He expressed confidence that the deliberations at the conference would generate actionable recommendations and innovative approaches capable of enhancing operational effectiveness in 2026 and beyond, while reinforcing the Nigerian Army’s role as a central pillar of national stability.
He commended officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their resilience, professionalism and unwavering commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
While acknowledging that security challenges persist, the Defence Minister said the operational capacity of terrorist groups, bandits and other criminal elements has been significantly degraded across multiple theatres, attributing the gains to troops’ courage, improved planning and execution, and coordinated operations conducted within a joint and multi-agency framework.
“It is evident that the operational capacity of terrorist groups, bandits and other criminal elements has been significantly degraded across multiple theatres,” he said.
General Musa emphasised that success in today’s security environment can only be sustained through unity of effort, adding that inter-service cooperation and joint operations are no longer optional but fundamental requirements for effective national defence.
The Defence Minister also highlighted the human dimension of service, paying tribute to fallen personnel who paid the supreme sacrifice in defence of the nation, while recognising wounded soldiers and the families who bear the enduring cost of service.
He said; “We honour the memory of our gallant personnel who paid the supreme sacrifice in the defence of our nation,”Musa said, adding that their welfare and long-term support “remain a sacred obligation that must be upheld without compromise.”
General Musa reaffirmed that security remains a central pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, pledging that the Ministry of Defence will continue to provide strategic direction, policy support and capability development to ensure the Armed Forces remain professional, responsive and future-ready.