Says Traditional Tactics Won’t Stop Tech-Driven Threats
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has urged a rapid embrace of artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial systems and data analytics to bolster Nigeria’s response to a shifting and increasingly sophisticated security landscape.
Delivering the keynote lecture at the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2026 on Sunday in Port Harcourt — part of activities marking the Army’s 163rd anniversary — Shaibu said threats to national security now extend beyond insurgency, terrorism and banditry to include cyber warfare, transnational organised crime, resource‑driven conflicts and other technology‑enabled dangers.
“Given our rapidly evolving security landscape, which continues to present increasingly complex and dynamic threats, there is an urgent need for fresh perspectives, innovative strategies and adaptive approaches to safeguard the lives, property and well‑being of the Nigerian people,” he said.
Shaibu told an audience of military personnel, former service chiefs and civic leaders that conventional approaches alone would no longer be sufficient. He said the Army had intensified intelligence gathering, strengthened inter‑agency cooperation and was investing in technology and personnel development to improve operational effectiveness.
“Embrace emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial systems and data analytics to enhance our situational awareness and operational effectiveness,” the COAS said, adding that such tools would enhance surveillance, decision‑making and the speed and accuracy of military responses.
He stressed that technological adoption must go hand in hand with training, ethical standards and welfare programs. Reiterating the Army’s “Soldier First” philosophy, Shaibu described soldiers as the military’s greatest asset and said prioritising their welfare, motivation and professional conduct was central to the institution’s transformation agenda.
“We must embrace emerging technologies… guided by innovation, professionalism and collaboration,” he said.
Former Chief of Army Staff Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (retd.), who delivered the lecture’s keynote address, urged the Army to continually adapt to emerging security realities through innovation, professionalism and stronger civil‑military cooperation. Agwai’s remarks reinforced the need for a holistic approach that blends technology, intelligence and community engagement.
The lecture was part of a wider program that included presentations of awards to individuals recognised for notable contributions to the service. The event concluded with an interactive media session in which the COAS took questions on troop welfare, ongoing military reforms, the operational deployment of emerging technologies and preparations for a grand finale scheduled for Monday in Port Harcourt.
As Nigeria confronts a more complex threat spectrum, Shaibu’s call reflects a global trend toward tech‑driven defence postures — combining sensors, unmanned systems and analytic tools with human intelligence and inter‑agency coordination to improve situational awareness, pre‑emptive planning and rapid response. The challenge ahead, he and other speakers acknowledged, will be to balance technological investment with training, legal and ethical safeguards and sustained support for personnel in the field.
