Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu: Advancing a More Professional, Adaptable, Combat-ready and Resilient Nigerian Army

Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja assumed office as Nigeria's 25th Chief of Army Staff on October 30, 2025, bringing a wealth of experience from counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP, including deployments in the Lake Chad region and Sambisa Forest. His tenure is marked by a clear command philosophy aimed at transforming the Nigerian Army into a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready, and resilient force capable of fulfilling its constitutional duties within a joint and multi-agency framework.

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to transform the Nigerian Army into a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force capable of decisively discharging its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency environment.

Lagbaja's vision is built upon pillars of professional excellence, robust administration, operational readiness, strategic cooperation, and exemplary leadership. This framework guides the Army's response to Nigeria's complex and evolving security challenges. Reflecting on his leadership during the 163rd Nigerian Army Day Celebration, Lagbaja highlighted significant progress in operational successes, force modernization, troop welfare, manpower development, and strengthened civil-military relations.

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His leadership has provided the necessary political will, resources and policy guidance required for operational success.

He emphasized the Nigerian Army's unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Lagbaja credited the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for providing the strategic direction, resources, and political will necessary for operational success. Under his leadership, the Army has shown renewed vigor and a clear purpose, employing both kinetic and non-kinetic operations to neutralize high-value targets, dismantle criminal networks, and restore stability in various parts of the country.

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Through a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic operations, we have neutralised high-value targets, dismantled criminal networks and restored stability across several parts of the country.

The driving force behind these recent operational successes, according to Lagbaja, is the Command Philosophy itself. This philosophy has been operationalized through improved intelligence fusion, enhanced joint operations, better-equipped troops, and strong leadership at all levels. The integration of kinetic and non-kinetic approaches has proven effective in not only neutralizing immediate threats but also in addressing the underlying causes of insecurity, leading to more coordinated, effective, and sustainable operational outcomes across all theaters of operation.

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Our successes are anchored on a clear Command Philosophy focused on transforming the Nigerian Army into a professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force.