Nigeria’s Security Threats More Complex, Require Unified Response — CDS
By Matthew Eloyi
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has said Nigeria’s evolving security challenges demand stronger collaboration among the Armed Forces, security agencies, ministries, and other critical stakeholders to achieve lasting peace and stability.
Oluyede made the call on Monday at the opening of the Strategic National Security Exercise (STRANEX) 2026 at the National Defence College (NDC) in Abuja, describing the initiative as a major step toward strengthening strategic preparedness and joint military operations.
Represented by the Director of Training at the Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Shaibu Nuhu, the CDS said STRANEX reflected the military’s commitment to excellence in professional education and the development of integrated responses to increasingly complex national security threats.
According to the CDS, bringing together the National Defence College and the services’ war colleges for a single integrated strategic exercise demonstrates a shared resolve to build a security architecture capable of addressing emerging threats.
“STRANEX is conceived as a platform to train participants to develop innovative, collaborative, and role-of-government solutions to national security issues.
“It is expected that the exercise will strengthen strategic thinking, improve service operation and deepen understanding of the multidimensional character of contemporary security operations.”
Oluyede noted that the initiative aligns with his command philosophy of consolidating the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces through enhanced jointness, improved welfare and sound administration.
He said the approach was aimed at ensuring the military remained fully capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty while promoting national prosperity.
“This philosophy underscores the imperative of integrating our capabilities across the services, while strengthening collaboration with other security agencies, ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
“It is only through such synergy that we can effectively respond to complex security challenges of our time and deliver enduring security outcomes for our nation,” he said.
Also speaking, the Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Adm. Abdullahi Ahmed, described STRANEX 2026 as a landmark initiative in advancing professional military education and enhancing strategic collaboration within the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
He said the exercise was designed to foster greater interoperability among participants from the NDC and the various services’ war colleges, while encouraging critical thinking and a shared understanding of the country’s complex security landscape.
“STRANEX is a pioneering initiative that brings together participants and faculty from the NDC and services war colleges in a unified strategic exercise designed to strengthen ‘jointness’, enhance critical thinking, and fosters a shared understanding of Nigeria’s complex national security environment.
“The conduct of this exercise reflects our collective recognition that contemporary security challenges are increasingly multifaceted and cannot be effectively addressed through isolated institutional or single-service approaches,” he said.
Ahmed observed that terrorism, insurgency, maritime insecurity, cyber threats, transnational crime, competition over resources and other emerging security concerns require coordinated national responses supported by strategic planning and foresight.
“STRANEX has therefore been carefully designed to provide participants of NDC Course 34 and services war colleges with an opportunity to analyse complex scenarios.
“The exercise will test strategic decision-making processes, and develop comprehensive solutions through collaboration across the services and with relevant national stakeholders,” he also said.
The commandant added that the exercise aligns with the college’s mission to “Develop Future Strategic Leaders Sufficiently Equipped with the Requisite Knowledge and Analytical Skills Necessary to Harness the Instruments of National Power in a Dynamic Defence and Security Environment.”
He said the National Defence College, as Nigeria’s highest institution for strategic-level professional military education, remained committed to producing military leaders with not only operational competence but also the intellectual capacity to effectively deploy diplomatic, information, military and economic instruments of national power in advancing the country’s security and development goals.
“STRANEX represents another important platform through which this mission is translated into practical learning and strategic application,” he added.
NAN reports that STRANEX 2026 has drawn 282 participants, comprising 103 from the National Defence College, 100 from the Army War College, 34 from the Naval War College and 45 from the Air Force War College.