Nigeria’s military has directed troops to apply lessons from a psychological operations workshop to improve counterinsurgency operations.
Representing the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, at the closing ceremony of the workshop in Abuja, the Chief of Defence Training, Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye, said: “Modern conflicts are no longer determined solely by firepower but also by the ability to shape perceptions, influence narratives, and win public confidence.”
Rear Admiral Ogunleye explained that the workshop, themed: “Building National Resilience: The Role of Influence Operations in Conflict Prevention and Stabilisation,” was designed to equip participants with the skills needed to address Nigeria’s complex security challenges, particularly those posed by non-state actors through coordinated influence operations.
According to him, deliberations over the two-day workshop reaffirmed that effective psychological operations are essential to shaping strategic narratives, preventing conflict, fostering public confidence, and strengthening societal resilience.
The Defence Chief urged participants to serve as force multipliers by applying the knowledge acquired in their respective commands and promoting coherent messaging both within and outside their areas of responsibility.
Earlier, the Director of Strategic Communications and Information Operations (SCIOPS), Rear Admiral Sien Aniaku, said contemporary military operations require not only kinetic capabilities but also the ability to influence perceptions and shape public narratives in support of operational objectives.
Rear Admiral Aniaku said that “participants and resource persons identified critical gaps and developed practical recommendations for strengthening psychological operations across operational theatres”.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Group Captain Fredrick Aigbokie expressed appreciation to the Defence Headquarters for organising the capacity-building programme.
He said, “Participants were now better equipped to plan, coordinate, and execute psychological operations and pledged to implement the lessons learned in their respective units”.
The workshop concluded with Rear Admiral Ogunleye formally declaring it closed on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff.
