The Nigerian Army has strengthened its operational capabilities by acquiring new combat drones and advanced military hardware. These tools, described as essential force multipliers, are designed to significantly upgrade surveillance, target acquisition, precision strikes, and casualty evacuation efforts across the nation.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, made the announcement at the conclusion of the three-day First Bi-Annual Chief of Army Staff Conference 2026.
According to Lt.-Gen. Shaibu, the evolving nature of modern security threats demands that the military remain proactive, adaptive, and highly innovative.
He noted that the newly integrated hardware has already yielded positive outcomes, contributing directly to recent military successes against insurgents in the North-East theatre of operations.
To maximize these gains, the Army Chief ordered commanders at all levels to convert the insights and resolutions from the conference into practical, measurable strategies within their units. He emphasized that the true success of the gathering rests entirely on execution.
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“The true value of this conference will not merely lie in the quality of presentations delivered, but in the extent to which these lessons are learned and the decisions reached are implemented,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of maintaining the current momentum of transformation and building strong military institutions for future generations.
Turning the focus to troops’ welfare, Lt.-Gen. Shaibu reiterated that a “soldier-first” culture is central to his leadership style, calling personnel the Army’s most valuable asset.
Conference discussions highlighted critical support areas, including timely payment of entitlements, enhanced healthcare, educational assistance, and upgraded welfare packages. The COAS believes these initiatives will directly boost combat effectiveness.
“We must therefore continue to prioritise the well-being of our personnel and their families,” he said.
Furthermore, he revealed that several direct intervention infrastructure projects are currently underway across various army formations. These upgrades aim to enhance daily living and working conditions, reinforcing operational readiness by ensuring motivated soldiers operate in conducive environments.
A major takeaway from the three-day event was a collective commitment to institutional accountability, professional standards, and stricter performance assessments.
“I have carefully observed the depth of contributions during this conference and I’m particularly encouraged by the maturity, sincerity and the strategic focus that characterise our engagements,” Shaibu stated. “Specifically, rather than dwelling on the challenges alone, discussions were largely centred on practical solutions, innovation and on how to improve the Nigerian Army.”
The Army Chief concluded by thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his steadfast backing of the military.
“Finally, on behalf of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, I wish to express our profound gratitude to His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for his unflinching support, strategic guidance and commitment to strengthening the capacity of the Nigerian Army and the Armed Forces in general,” he said. “His continuous support has enabled many of the transformative initiatives that we are witnessing across the Nigerian Army.”
