AWC Security Desk
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has emphasized that realistic, mission-oriented training remains the cornerstone of success in modern warfare, warning that inadequate preparation of troops could severely undermine operational effectiveness across Nigeria’s diverse security theatres.
Lieutenant General Shaibu made this assertion in his opening remarks at the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Conference 2026, which officially marks the commencement of the Nigerian Army’s training activities for the year. The annual conference serves as a strategic platform for setting the tone, priorities and standards for Army training nationwide.
The Army Chief noted that Nigeria’s evolving and increasingly complex security environment—characterised by terrorism, insurgency, banditry and other asymmetric threats—demands a highly professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force. According to him, victory in contemporary conflicts is no longer determined by numbers alone, but by the quality of training, leadership and preparedness of troops.
He explained that the TRADOC Conference 2026 is designed to harmonise training, doctrine and operational concepts with both current and emerging threats, in line with his Command Philosophy. The aim, he said, is to ensure that training outcomes directly translate into superior performance on the battlefield.
General Shaibu charged commandants of training institutions and senior training leaders to move beyond theory and ensure that doctrines and conference resolutions are converted into practical, mission-specific training programmes. Such training, he stressed, must be realistic, rigorous and reflective of actual operational environments faced by troops.
The COAS further underscored the need for training that enhances the Army’s capacity to operate effectively in joint, inter-agency and multi-agency settings, noting that modern security challenges require seamless collaboration with other services and security agencies.
By setting a strong tone at the TRADOC Conference, the Army Chief reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s resolve to build a force that is disciplined, agile and prepared to decisively confront present and future threats, as training activities for 2026 officially get underway.
