The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has emphasized that realistic, mission-oriented, and doctrine-driven training remains the cornerstone for achieving superior operational results across Nigeria’s diverse security theaters.
Delivering the opening remarks at the 2026 Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Conference—officially inaugurating the Nigerian Army’s training calendar for the year—Lt.-Gen. Shaibu warned that inadequate preparation of officers and soldiers could weaken operational effectiveness.
“The evolving and increasingly complex security environment demands a force that is professional, adaptable, combat-ready, and resilient,” he remarked, stressing that failure to realistically prepare troops compromises success on the battlefield.
The Army Chief noted that the conference aims to foster robust, forward-looking discussions focused on aligning training, doctrine, and operational concepts with Nigeria’s contemporary and emerging security challenges.
Lt.-Gen. Shaibu reaffirmed Army Headquarters’ commitment to sound policy formulation and holistic, mission-specific training, consistent with his Command Philosophy. He urged commanders and leaders of training institutions to internalize this philosophy and translate it into producing combat-ready, resilient troops capable of effective joint and multi-agency operations.
Describing the conference theme, “Enhancing Nigerian Army Operational Outcomes Through Effective Training and Doctrine Implementation,” as both timely and relevant, the COAS underscored the critical role doctrine plays in guiding training, planning, and operational execution throughout the Army.
He encouraged participants to draw on real operational experiences during the conference deliberations to strengthen the Army’s capacity to counter terrorism, insurgency, and other security threats facing the nation.
Highlighting Exercise MUGUN BUGU as the pinnacle of Nigerian Army training activities, Lt.-Gen. Shaibu identified the exercise as central to validating doctrinal principles and assessing operational readiness. He called for increased realism in training scenarios, including the integration of improvised explosive device (IED) threats, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) procedures, and greater use of simulators to improve proficiency and cost-efficiency.
Acknowledging the sacrifices of Nigerian Army personnel in safeguarding national security, the COAS reaffirmed his dedication to enhancing fighting power, welfare, administration, and leadership to confront ongoing threats to peace and stability.
He also praised past commanders of TRADOC, retired senior officers, and current leadership for their contributions toward developing the Nigerian Army. Additionally, Lt.-Gen. Shaibu expressed gratitude to conference resource persons for their valuable insights and commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR—the Commander-in-Chief—for his continued support to the Army, further pledging unwavering loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In his welcome address, the Commander of TRADOC, Maj.-Gen. Peter Malla, described the conference as a vital intellectual forum setting the tone for the Nigerian Army’s training operations in 2026.
Maj.-Gen. Malla emphasized the Army’s steadfast commitment to doctrine-driven, realistic, and mission-focused training as the foundation of operational effectiveness in an increasingly complex security environment. He highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing counter-terrorism and internal security operations as evidence of the essential connection between sound doctrine, effective training, and operational success.
Reaffirming TRADOC’s dedication to the Nigerian Army Doctrine as the professional blueprint guiding military operations, Maj.-Gen. Malla stressed the need for doctrine to remain dynamic and responsive to emerging threats.
He urged all participants to actively engage in conference deliberations, critically evaluate assumptions, and propose practical solutions to enhance training effectiveness and strengthen the Army’s collective operational competence.
Following the addresses, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu officially declared the Training and Doctrine Command Conference 2026 open.
