ABUJA — The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has highlighted major operational, structural, and administrative achievements recorded by the Nigerian Army in his first 365 days in office, revealing that the Federal Government has approved expanding the force from eight to 12 divisions alongside recruiting 28,000 additional personnel.
In an official 365-day review and goodwill message released via the Nigerian Army’s verified social media channels on Wednesday, General Shaibu stated that the force expansion and recruitment clearance represent critical steps toward strengthening national security architecture and responding decisively to multi-front challenges across the country.
He explained that the strategic restructuring was tailored to close critical security gaps, stating, “The expansion is intended to strengthen our territorial coverage, improve operational responsiveness, enhance the protection of vulnerable communities and provide greater capacity for sustained security operations across the country.” Under this framework, the Army’s administration over the past year has focused on improving operational effectiveness, upgrading institutional capacity, and elevating professional standards in strict alignment with its constitutional responsibilities.
General Shaibu outlined that the Army’s transformation agenda is guided by five strategic pillars: Professional Excellence, Robust Administration, Operational Readiness, Strategic Cooperation, and Exemplary Leadership. He emphasized that these principles are anchored on a “Soldier-First” culture, prioritizing the welfare, motivation, personal dignity, and professional development of officers and soldiers.
Commending troops stationed across active conflict zones, the Army Chief expressed deep gratitude to frontline personnel fighting terrorism, insurgency, banditry, and other threats. He also paid profound tribute to fallen heroes who lost their lives in defense of the nation and offered encouragement to wounded soldiers undergoing medical recovery, assuring them of continuous institutional support.
General Shaibu further charged all military personnel to maintain strict professionalism, uphold human rights, and comply fully with established rules of engagement during all field operations.
Concluding his review, he expressed total confidence in the Nigerian Army’s capacity to overcome prevailing security challenges, urging troops to consolidate their gains and advance the service into a more capable, resilient, and technologically enabled force.
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