CoAS pledges security boost with upgraded equipment, manpower

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to addressing the nation’s pressing security challenges through sustained equipment upgrades and a robust boost in manpower.

Speaking at the 2025 Nigerian Army Doctrine and Training Conference in Minna on Tuesday, the COAS highlighted these measures as critical to combating terrorism, insurgency, banditry, and other security threats facing the country.

Oluyede also emphasized its significance in implementing the directives outlined in the Nigerian Army Training Directive 2025.

“The conference aligns with the mandate of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), tasked with spearheading transformative changes in personnel training”, he noted.

Themed “Understanding Nigerian Army Doctrine for Effective Training within a Joint Environment,” the conference reflects the COAS’s command philosophy of consolidating the army’s transformation into a well-motivated, combat-ready force capable of fulfilling its constitutional duties in a joint and multi-agency setting.

Highlighting his command philosophy’s four pillars—Leadership, Sound Administration, Professionalism, and Combat Readiness, Oluyede underscored the critical role of doctrine in achieving operational success.

He reaffirmed the army’s commitment to realistic training, efficient troop sustenance, and pragmatic equipment procurement and maintenance, key factors for combat readiness.

Acknowledging Nigeria’s complex security landscape, characterized by challenges such as terrorism, insurgency, banditry, farmers-herders conflicts, economic crimes, and separatist agitations, the COAS reiterated that the Nigerian Army has prioritized upgrading equipment and boosting manpower over the past decade to tackle these threats effectively.

The COAS noted that the conference would critically assess the country’s security and defence environment, evaluate the army’s training curriculum, and introduce innovative strategies for combat readiness.

In his welcome address, Kevin Aligbe, TRADOC Commander highlighted the conference’s pivotal role in setting the tone for training across all Nigerian Army institutions. He stressed that the Nigerian Army’s Proactive Responsive Doctrine guides tailored training to address evolving security challenges effectively.

He also emphasized collaboration with sister services, government agencies, and non-governmental stakeholders to secure the country for economic prosperity. Following the inauguration,  Oluyede assured the troops that their welfare remains a priority.

He pledged to address identified challenges within available resources and urged the troops to remain committed to providing security for national development.

The COAS also extended gratitude to  President Bola Tinubu, for his strategic leadership in supporting the Nigerian Army’s efforts, in collaboration with other security agencies, to overcome national security threats.

The Doctrine and Training Conference 2025 marks another step forward in the Nigerian Army’s mission to enhance combat efficiency and maintain national security in a challenging environment.