The Nigerian Army has rolled out an intelligence-driven and technology-enabled strategy to confront the country’s evolving security challenges, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, said Tuesday.
Shaibu announced the approach while delivering a strategic lecture to participants of Course 34 at the National Defence College in Abuja, titled “Combating Asymmetric Threats to National Security in Nigeria: The Nigerian Army in Perspective.”
He said Nigeria’s security landscape has shifted from traditional state-based conflicts to complex intra-state threats involving terrorists, insurgents, bandits, cybercriminals and transnational crime networks. According to him, these groups exploit governance gaps, social vulnerabilities and emerging technologies to undermine public confidence and state authority.
The army chief said the service has recalibrated its doctrine and force posture through a multi-domain approach that combines decisive military action with intelligence fusion, inter-agency collaboration, joint operations with sister services and stronger international partnerships.
Shaibu outlined region-specific operations, including sustained counterinsurgency campaigns in the North-East, intensified joint efforts against banditry in the North-West, and stabilization operations in the North-Central to protect civilians and curb communal violence.
He also highlighted the growing role of advanced technology, improved training and deeper cooperation with other security agencies in enhancing operational effectiveness, adding that national security now extends beyond territorial defence to include economic security, cyber resilience, environmental stability and human security.
Shaibu urged participants of NDC Course 34, whom he described as Nigeria’s future strategic leaders, to embrace integrated security frameworks that address both immediate threats and their root causes. He reassured Nigerians of the Army’s commitment to safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, protecting lives and securing critical national infrastructure.
