By Gabriel Ameh
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, Nigerian Army Medal, has urged newly commissioned officers of the Nigerian Army to prioritize national interest above personal considerations and remain steadfastly loyal to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He gave the charge on Saturday, 6 December 2025, during the Passing Out Parade of Executive Commission Course 2/2025 at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry (NASI), Jaji.
In a statement signed by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, the COAS said the commissioning aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to expand manpower, reinforce frontline deployments, and accelerate nationwide security stabilization under the recently declared State of Emergency on Security.
General Shaibu commended the quality of training received by the officers, noting that their impressive parade display and weapon-handling skills reflect the Army’s rising professional standards amid heightened security challenges. He urged the officers to remain apolitical, disciplined, and fully subordinate to civil authority, stressing that constitutional loyalty and professionalism are the pillars of military service.
He reminded the officers that their commissioning occurs at a critical period in Nigeria’s security history, marked by terrorism, banditry, and evolving threats that demand courageous, mission-focused, and ethically grounded leadership.
Earlier, the Commandant of NASI, Major General Frank Etim, explained that the course curriculum had been restructured to meet emerging security realities. The 250 officers, including 14 females, underwent intensive training in counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, leadership, physical conditioning, and tactical command to ensure they are combat-ready for ongoing and future operations nationwide. Awards were presented to officers who excelled in academics, field performance, and leadership.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s security plan through expanded recruitment, rigorous training, enhanced readiness, and strategic deployments.
In a related development, the Army commissioned a state-of-the-art Wargaming Centre at the Department of Land Warfare, Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, to enhance strategic planning and operational effectiveness.
Receiving the COAS at the facility, the Commandant of AFCSC, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Idris Alhaji, described the Wargaming Centre as a major advancement, significantly improving officers’ capacity for operational design, strategic thinking, and combat decision-making. He commended General Shaibu for initiating the project and assured that the College will continue providing world-class professional military education.
In his remarks, General Shaibu reaffirmed AFCSC’s strategic role in producing officers capable of addressing evolving national security challenges. He noted that the Wargaming Centre will strengthen commanders’ ability to plan, rehearse, and execute operations with precision in today’s technology-driven security environment.
The COAS also reiterated his commitment to modernizing all military training infrastructures to global standards and lauded President Tinubu for supporting the Army’s transformation drive. He commended the Commandant and the College community for their dedication to excellence.
