Tinubu Endorses ‘Shaibu Doctrine’ as Book Targets Institutional Reform in Army

By Matthew Eloyi

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has endorsed a new book documenting the leadership philosophy and operational doctrine of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, in what its promoters described as a significant contribution to Nigeria’s efforts to reform and strengthen its military response to insecurity.

The book, The Shaibu Doctrine: Mission Command and the Remaking of Nigeria’s Army at War, authored by Dr. Sunday Adejoh of the Nigerian Defence Academy and Dr. M.S. Abubakar, was unveiled at a national press conference in Abuja on Tuesday.

The President, according to Sir Dr. AK Etta Peters, who announced the publication, graciously approved and wrote the foreword to the book, underscoring the relevance of the Mission Command doctrine to the Federal Government’s security agenda.

Peters said the presidential endorsement demonstrated the importance attached to the leadership approach of Lt. Gen. Shaibu and its perceived alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration.

“To show the importance of this book, the relevance of this book, the need for this book, and to emphasize the doctrine of Mission Command, the style and strategy of the current Nigeria Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, His Excellency, the Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, graciously approved and wrote the foreword to this book because what Shaibu is doing aligns with his Renewed Hope Agenda for military and security,” Peters said.

According to him, the publication is intended to go beyond documenting the activities of an individual military commander by examining a leadership philosophy that could potentially become part of the institutional knowledge of the Nigerian Army.

He said the central theme of the book was Mission Command, a doctrine that promotes trust in subordinate commanders, decentralises responsibility and gives officers greater freedom to exercise initiative in complex and rapidly changing operational environments.

Peters described Lt. Gen. Shaibu as an example of visionary military leadership, saying his command philosophy had contributed to an Army that was becoming more adaptive, professional and responsive to the communities it serves.

“General Shaibu has, in the most difficult of times, demonstrated what visionary military leadership looks like. He has championed Mission Command — a doctrine that trusts our officers and soldiers, that pushes responsibility down the chain of command, and that empowers initiative in the face of uncertainty,” he said.

He linked reported improvements in troop morale, operational tempo and civil-military relations, as well as progress in counter-insurgency operations, to what he described as “doctrine, discipline, and decisive leadership.”

Peters argued that Nigeria’s prolonged security challenges required more than the deployment of weapons and troops, insisting that the country must also develop and preserve the ideas, strategies and institutional lessons generated from its battlefield experiences.

“Nigeria is at war, not just with terrorists and criminals, but with the very idea of insecurity. Firepower alone will not win this war. We need ideas. We need doctrine. We need to institutionalize the lessons we are learning so that they outlive any one administration or any one leader,” he said.

He said The Shaibu Doctrine could serve different purposes, including providing policymakers with a strategic framework, the military with an institutional record, and scholars and cadets with material for studying contemporary Nigerian military leadership.

Author: Shaibu is a war-tested commander

Co-author Dr. M.S. Abubakar said his decision to participate in the project was informed by years of exposure to Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations.

Abubakar disclosed that he had been observing and engaging with the theatre of operations since 2013, with deeper involvement between 2015 and 2021.

He said the experience gave him an opportunity to witness firsthand the challenges confronting troops, as well as the evolution of Nigeria’s military response to insurgency and other forms of armed violence.

Describing Lt. Gen. Shaibu as a “war-tested military officer”, Abubakar said he had interacted with the Army chief at different stages of his career, including his period as brigade commander in Bama, Borno State, and later as Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole.

According to him, Shaibu distinguished himself in previous operational assignments, although he acknowledged that the military continues to confront significant challenges in the asymmetric war.

He explained that the nature of terrorism and insurgency differs fundamentally from conventional warfare because armed groups often conceal themselves within civilian communities rather than operating from clearly identifiable military positions.

He said such circumstances made intelligence gathering, surveillance, technology and close cooperation with civilian populations critical to the success of military operations.

Drone technology takes centre stage

The discussion also focused on the growing role of unmanned aerial systems in Nigeria’s security operations.

Abubakar disclosed that the Nigerian Army was already using drones for surveillance and other military operations, particularly along the country’s borders with Chad and Niger.

He said the Army had taken steps to procure military-grade drones, including through arrangements with Turkish manufacturers, but argued that Nigeria needed to significantly expand domestic capacity for the development and production of such systems.

“I am aware they are making good use of drones, but they can still do more,” he said.

He called on Nigerian entrepreneurs and technology innovators to explore defence manufacturing opportunities, particularly in the drone sector.

Abubakar also cautioned against generalising the cost of military drones, saying their prices vary depending on their capabilities, specifications and intended missions.

He said some sophisticated systems could cost as much as $1.5 million, while less complex drones could be significantly cheaper. Some specialised systems, he added, could remain airborne for as long as 72 hours.

According to him, the strategic value of drones goes beyond surveillance, as they can enable security forces to identify threats before attacks are launched and support proactive military action.

“With equipment like drone, you see what the enemy is about to do, and then you strike him out before he does anything he wants to do,” he said.

Despite acknowledging the progress made, Abubakar gave the Army a “B rating” for its drone procurement efforts, maintaining that there was still considerable room for improvement in military technology and indigenous defence production.

The public presentation of The Shaibu Doctrine: Mission Command and the Remaking of Nigeria’s Army at War is scheduled for October 30, 2026, at the Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The event is being organised by the Strategic Leadership Initiative, Elbroco International Security Company Ltd and Clarivox Creatives, in collaboration with the Kalthum Foundation for Peace.