Chief Of Army Staff launches new doctrine to boost professionalism and readiness

By Zainab Uzomah|Abuja

The Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, has unveiled a new command philosophy aimed at strengthening professionalism, operational readiness and leadership across the Nigerian Army.

In a statement signed by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations Colonel Appolonia Anele; Lieutenant General Shaibu outlined the doctrine during a lecture to officers on Senior Course 48 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College on Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

He said modern military leadership must be anchored on character, courage and genuine concern for personnel, warning that Nigeria’s volatile and multi-dimensional security threats demand more than tactical skill. The army, he noted, remains deployed nationwide in counterinsurgency, counterterrorism and internal security operations, placing a premium on institutional resilience.

The army chief said the philosophy would accelerate the force’s transformation into a combat-effective organisation capable of fulfilling its constitutional mandate within joint and multi-agency operations. Innovation, he added, would drive progress, while resilience would remain the defining spirit of the Nigerian soldier.

The framework is built around five pillars captured by the acronym PROSE: Professional Excellence, Robust Administration, Operational Readiness, Strategic Cooperation and Exemplary Leadership. Lieutenant General Shaibu said these principles are underpinned by a “soldier-first” culture that prioritises welfare, morale, training and dignity as foundations of combat effectiveness.

He also stressed that success should be measured not only on the battlefield but by public trust, strong civil–military relations and adherence to the rule of law. Addressing course participants as future operational and strategic leaders, he urged them to embed the philosophy across formations and units.

The new PROSE-driven command philosophy signals what the army describes as a strategic shift—seeking to balance ongoing internal security operations with long-term force development, modernisation and institutional reform in response to Nigeria’s evolving security landscape.