By Sumaila Ogbaje

When Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu became the 25th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on Oct. 30, 2025, expectations were immediate, intense, and uncompromising.

He assumed command amid a highly complex security landscape.

For instance, the North-East continues to grapple with a protracted insurgency, while the North-West faces escalating banditry and kidnappings.

At the same time, persistent farmer-herder clashes in the North-Central and separatist tensions in the South-East, combined with widespread insecurity, have tested both operational capacity and public confidence.

For any new Army Chief, the first 100 days rarely produce dramatic battlefield victories.

Instead, they reveal leadership style, command priorities, and strategic direction.

In Shaibu’s case, his early tenure shows a command philosophy anchored on visibility, operational consistency, urgency, and troop welfare.

Shaibu inherited not just an Army at war, but one under intense scrutiny.

Meanwhile, communities affected by violence demanded relief, political leaders faced pressure, and frontline troops contended with adaptive adversaries exploiting terrain, intelligence gaps, and logistical weaknesses.

Thus, his immediate challenge was to establish authority and credibility; internally among officers and soldiers, and externally with a watchful public.

Leadership by presence has defined his early approach.

Shaibu visited frontline formations in the North-West and North-East, engaging with troops, inspecting bases, and holding candid discussions with field commanders.

During one early visit, he told soldiers: “Failure is not an option. The Nigerian Army must take the fight to the enemy and sustain the pressure”.

He also emphasised discipline and accountability.

“Success in internal security operations comes not from headline victories but from sustained, consistent operations.

“Every officer and soldier must understand that excellence is non-negotiable, but it cannot be demanded without the tools to achieve it,” Shaibu said.

For troops operating under austere and often dangerous conditions, such visibility and direct communication carry significant weight.

It signals that leadership understands the risks and sacrifices inherent in frontline duty, boosting morale and reinforcing performance expectations.

Within military circles, these visits have been widely interpreted as a reminder that initiative, accountability, and operational excellence matter at every level.

Unlike some transitions accompanied by sweeping doctrinal pronouncements, Shaibu’s approach has been restrained in rhetoric but firm in execution.

Instead of unveiling entirely new strategies, he has focused on tightening existing operations, closing gaps, and enforcing discipline.

Commanders have been directed to prioritise sustained operations over episodic offensives, with emphasis on denying armed groups freedom of action, disrupting logistics networks, and degrading command structures.

Intelligence-led operations have been repeatedly highlighted.

Shaibu stressed the need to “reduce predictability and adapt tactics to evolving threats,” reflecting an understanding of the fragmented and adaptive nature of Nigeria’s security challenges.

Troop welfare, logistics, and equipment have also been central to his messaging.

Shaibu openly acknowledged constraints, from equipment shortages and maintenance backlogs to supply chain inefficiencies.

“You cannot demand excellence from soldiers without giving them the tools to succeed,” he told officers and troops during one visit.

Although systemic logistics challenges cannot realistically be resolved within 100 days, his early emphasis on these issues has resonated within the ranks, signalling that welfare and sustainment are now core command priorities.

Professionalism and discipline remain non-negotiable pillars.

Troops are reminded to adhere to rules of engagement and respect civilian populations, especially in complex internal security operations where the line between combatant and non-combatant is blurred.

Shaibu noted, “Operational success and public trust are inseparable. The Nigerian Army must protect civilians even as it neutralizes threats”.

Civil-military relations and strategic communication have also been emphasised.

At a time of heightened public scrutiny, the Army under Shaibu has sought to balance operational secrecy with transparency, explaining actions that affect civilians and reinforcing that modern conflicts are fought not just on the battlefield but also in the court of public opinion.

Albeit early momentum, entrenched challenges remain.

Nigeria’s vast terrain, multiple threat groups, intelligence gaps, and resource constraints continue to shape operations.

Analysts caution that leadership tone and presence alone cannot secure durable gains.

Therefore, institutional reforms, improved inter-agency coordination, intelligence fusion, technological upgrades, and sustained political support are critical.

A military scholar and Publisher of OurNigeria News Magazine, Dr Sani Abubakar describes Shaibu’s early tenure as “reassuring and energising”.

He praises the COAS’s combat credibility, operational boldness, and focus on troop welfare.

According to Abubakar, Shaibu’s operational philosophy centres on sustained dominance of the battlespace, intelligence-led targeting, and uncompromising control of reclaimed terrain, principles critical to breaking cycles of retreat and resurgence by armed groups.

Among the early gains cited by Abubakar are the neutralisation of numerous terrorist elements and the surrender of others weakened by sustained pressure.

He also commends Shaibu’s emphasis on sound administration, especially fairness and transparency in postings and appointments, which is gradually restoring confidence within the officer corps and rank and file.

Reflecting on Shaibu’s career, Abubakar said, “He is a thoroughbred, no-nonsense officer who led from the front and was unflinching in confronting Boko Haram terrorists.

“His insistence on integrity, accountability, and merit-based leadership comes from experience at every level of command”.

Looking ahead, Abubakar advises deeper investment in human intelligence (HUMINT) and greater use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

He also stresses the need for a sustained focus on security sector governance reforms; measures he says are essential for efficiency and professionalism within the Army.

At 100 days, Shaibu’s tenure is defined more by direction than outcomes.

Communities affected by violence will now judge him by tangible results; fewer attacks, improved protection, and restored public confidence.

Officers and soldiers will assess whether leadership intent is matched by resources, reforms, and consistent follow-through.

Ultimately, whether this early momentum yields lasting security gains will depend on how effectively intent is translated into institutional capacity and sustained action.

For now, the clock is ticking, and the mission is far from over. (NAN)

By David Torough, Abuja

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Nigerian Army, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has arrived in the Republic of Liberia to participate in the country’s 69th Armed Forces Day celebration, holding on Wednesday, 11 February 2026.

Lieutenant General Shaibu is in Liberia at the invitation of the Armed Forces of Liberia, underscoring the strong military and diplomatic relations between both countries.

On arrival, he was warmly received by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia, Major General Davidson Forley.

In a display of mutual respect and longstanding professional cooperation, the Nigerian Army chief inspected a Guard of Honour mounted by the Armed Forces of Liberia.

The ceremonial gesture highlighted the enduring ties between the two sister armed forces and Liberia’s high regard for the Nigerian Army.

As part of his official engagement, Lieutenant General Shaibu also paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Liberia, where he was received by the Chargé d’Affaires, Ambassador Rahmat Muhammad. During the visit, the COAS interacted with embassy staff and commended their role in promoting Nigeria–Liberia bilateral relations and protecting the interests of Nigerians resident in the country.

The visit reflects Nigeria’s continued commitment to defence diplomacy, enhanced military cooperation and regional security collaboration within the West African sub-region.

It also reinforces Nigeria’s resolve to strengthen professional solidarity and strategic partnerships with African militaries in addressing emerging security challenges.

Lieutenant General Shaibu is expected to attend the Armed Forces Day ceremony, during which Liberia will commemorate its military heritage, operational achievements and the role of the armed forces in national development and stability.

The Nigerian Army chief has a longstanding connection with Liberia, having previously served as Military Assistant to a former Chief of Army Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of Liberia’s defence sector, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, one of the country’s highest military honours.

The 69th Armed Forces Day celebration marks another milestone in the enduring military cooperation between Nigeria and Liberia

By David Torough, Abuja

The Nigerian Army has reaffirmed its commitment to an intelligence-driven, technology-enabled and multi-domain approach to countering asymmetric threats confronting the country.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, made this known on Tuesday while delivering a strategic lecture to participants of the National Defence College (NDC), Course 34, in Abuja.

The lecture was titled “Combating Asymmetric Threats to National Security in Nigeria: The Nigerian Army in Perspective. ”

Lieutenant General Shaibu said the global security landscape has shifted significantly from conventional state-on-state warfare to complex intra-state conflicts driven largely by non-state actors.

These include terrorists, insurgents, bandits, cybercriminals and transnational organised crime networks that exploit governance gaps, social vulnerabilities and emerging technologies.

In response, he explained that the Nigerian Army has recalibrated its operational doctrine and force posture through a comprehensive multi-domain strategy. The approach combines kinetic operations with intelligence fusion, inter-agency collaboration, joint operations with sister services and sustained international partnerships.

“Asymmetric threats thrive on adaptability, anonymity and the deliberate targeting of civilians to erode public confidence and state authority,” the COAS said. “Our response must therefore be equally adaptive, proactive, intelligence-led and collaborative.”

He noted that Army operations across Nigeria’s geo-political zones are tailored to local threat dynamics. In the North-East, sustained counter-insurgency operations have continued to weaken terrorist groups through offensive manoeuvres, intelligence-led strikes and population-focused stabilisation efforts.

In the North-West, wide-ranging joint operations have intensified pressure on bandit groups, disrupted their logistics and financing networks and improved the protection of vulnerable communities. Meanwhile, in the North-Central region, stabilisation efforts have focused on area domination, civilian protection and the containment of communal and militia-related violence.

Lieutenant General Shaibu also highlighted the role of advanced technologies, improved training and deeper jointness with sister services in enhancing situational awareness, operational reach and overall mission effectiveness. He stressed that modern national security goes beyond territorial defence to include economic security, cyber resilience, environmental stability and human security.

According to the Army Chief, lasting peace can only be achieved when military operations are complemented by effective governance, justice delivery and inclusive socio-economic development.

He urged participants of NDC Course 34, whom he described as Nigeria’s future strategic and operational leaders, to adopt integrated and forward-looking security frameworks that address both the symptoms and root causes of conflict.

The COAS reassured Nigerians of the Army’s resolve to defend the nation’s sovereignty, protect lives and property and secure critical national infrastructure amid the evolving and increasingly complex security environment.