The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, officially opened the 2025 Nigerian Army Doctrine and Training Conference in Minna, Niger State, emphasizing the Army’s commitment to equipment modernization and boosting manpower.
The conference, themed “Understanding Nigerian Army Doctrine for Effective Training within a Joint Environment,” serves as a strategic platform for reviewing and enhancing the Nigerian Army’s doctrine and training directives for 2025 and beyond.
The COAS highlighted the importance of aligning the conference’s focus with his command philosophy, which aims to transform the Army into a well-motivated and combat-ready force capable of fulfilling its constitutional duties within a joint and multi-agency framework.
General Oluyede outlined the four pillars of his command philosophy: Leadership, Sound Administration, Professionalism, and Combat Readiness.
He reaffirmed his dedication to realistic training, efficient troop sustenance, and pragmatic equipment acquisition and maintenance, all essential for operational success.
Addressing the current security landscape, the COAS acknowledged the complex mix of transnational and domestic challenges confronting Nigeria, including terrorism, insurgency, banditry, farmers-herders conflicts, oil pipeline vandalism, and secessionist agitations.
He noted that the Nigerian Army has prioritized equipment upgrades and manpower development to tackle these threats effectively.
The Army Chief expressed optimism about the conference’s potential to critically assess Nigeria’s security environment, evaluate the Army’s training curriculum, and propose innovative solutions for improving combat readiness.
Major General Kevin Aligbe, Commander of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), in his welcome address, emphasized that the conference sets the tone for all Nigerian Army training activities.
He stated that the Army’s proactive and responsive doctrine serves as a guide for training and operational strategies, particularly in addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
He also underscored the need for collaboration with sister services, security agencies, and non-governmental stakeholders to ensure national security and economic growth.
During his visit to Minna Cantonment, General Oluyede interacted with troops, reassuring them of his administration’s commitment to their welfare and pledging to address challenges within available resources. He urged the troops to remain dedicated to safeguarding the nation’s socio-economic development.
The COAS also expressed gratitude to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his strategic leadership in supporting the Nigerian Army’s efforts to neutralize the nation’s adversaries in collaboration with other security agencies.
The Doctrine and Training Conference 2025 is expected to chart a progressive course for the Nigerian Army’s operations and training methodologies in the face of dynamic security challenges.
LV