Nigerian Military Overhauls Joint Operations

Abdul Mohammed Isa, Abuja

A high-level committee from the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) and Commanders at the Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) Theatre Command in Maiduguri have begun a critical review of the Nigerian Armed Forces’ Joint Defence strategy.

The engagement, part of a nationwide consultation ordered by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, aims to modernise the military’s core operational guidelines to enhance effectiveness across all service branches.

The four-man committee, led by Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Isah, met with the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, to gather practical insights from officers actively engaged in the counter-insurgency operation in the North East.

Major General Abubakar praised the initiative, stating that the review was “very timely” and crucial for improving interoperability and “jointness” – the seamless integration of Army, Navy, and Air Force operations.

“In the OPHK Theatre of Operations, jointness has been the key to operational effectiveness,” Gen. Abubakar said, before providing detailed inputs from the Command’s experience.

According to the command’s Media Information Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba,  the Joint Defence Doctrine is typically reviewed every five years.

The current update, directed by Gen. Musa, involves gathering ground-level perspectives from formations across the country.

A presentation on the Theatre Command’s doctrinal contributions was delivered by Brigadier General Nelson Okafor, Commander of the 57 Signals Brigade, Lt. Col. Uba stated.

In a separate courtesy visit, the Theatre Commander also met with officials from IHS Towers, a major telecommunications infrastructure company.

The team lead, retired Colonel Abdulkadir Ahmed, stated the visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration on securing critical national infrastructure in the vulnerable North East region.

He said that the company, which maintains cell towers and facilities for telecom providers, often requires military support for its operations.

Col. Ahmed highlighted the company’s existing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support to military locations and called for a deeper security partnership.

In response, Major General Abubakar assured IHS Towers of the Command’s commitment to protecting critical assets, aligning with a recent Presidential order on safeguarding national infrastructure.

Hauwa Abu