COAS Orders Training Reforms, Intelligence Upgrade, Welfare Enhancement as Annual Conference 2025 Ends
By Jerry Adesewo
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General W. Shaibu, has announced a comprehensive overhaul of the Nigerian Army’s training, operational, and administrative frameworks as part of renewed efforts to build a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready, and resilient force.
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Lieutenant General Shaibu disclosed this on Thursday while delivering his closing remarks at the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference 2025, held at Nebo Hall, Abalti Barracks, Lagos. He said the conference provided a critical platform to review the Army’s operational and administrative performance in 2025 and to set policy direction for the year ahead.
According to him, the Nigerian Army will immediately realign its training, operations, logistics, and administrative processes with his Command Philosophy, aimed at accelerating institutional transformation and strengthening the Army’s capacity to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency environment.
As part of the reform drive, the COAS announced plans for a total overhaul of training curricula across all Army training institutions. He stressed that realistic, mission-oriented training directly enhances operational effectiveness and success. Army Headquarters, through the Department of Training, he said, will lead mission-specific programmes with increased emphasis on Special Forces and Army Aviation.
“The Nigerian Army will make informed but bold changes to its training and operational activities in the coming year, including deliberate interventions to enhance the capacity of Special Forces institutions,” he stated.
The COAS noted that intelligence briefings and operational updates presented at the conference highlighted the growing complexity of Nigeria’s security environment. He emphasised the need to strengthen capabilities in Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR), cyber operations, and technological innovation to effectively counter evolving threats.
He added that the Army would continue to adapt and innovate while leveraging support from the nation’s political leadership in the procurement of critical military hardware and software, alongside fostering a culture of innovation at all levels of command.
On troops’ welfare, the COAS reaffirmed his commitment to addressing accommodation shortfalls across Army barracks nationwide. He directed that all ongoing residential accommodation projects be completed and allocated without delay, while new housing projects would be initiated across formations. Extensive renovation works, he added, would also be carried out as an interim measure.
He further assured that post-service housing for soldiers remains a top priority, announcing the commissioning of the Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOOAS) Akobo Project and the Post-Service Housing Development Limited Shopping Complex in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The COAS commended the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army) and the conference planning committee for the successful organisation of the event, as well as participants for their robust contributions, which he said would enrich future strategies and policy formulation.
Lieutenant General Shaibu also expressed the Nigerian Army’s appreciation to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his sustained support, reaffirming the Army’s loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The COAS Annual Conference 2025, which drew participants from all Defence and Nigerian Army formations and units, was declared open on Monday, 14 December 2025.