"We are more than ever determined to go after all the non-state actors to restore peace and stability in the country. In the same vein, we need non-kinetic activities, particularly psychological operations, to shape the environment in favour of the ultimate aim of all ongoing operations.
The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Gwabin Musa said this today at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja at the Maiden edition of DHQ Workshop on Psychological Operations to enhance its capabilities in influencing and shaping the operational environment to achieve strategic objectives.
The theme of the workshop is “Defence Headquarters Influence Operations: Optimizing Psychological Operations for Efficiency in a Joint Environment” is apt.
General Musa said the DHQ Workshop on Psychological Operations is designed to ensure that the full spectrum of psychological operations is explored to the fullest extent possible to achieve the workshop's purpose.
He noted that the the workshop is carefully designed to explore other forms of operations. "This workshop is significant in our collective efforts at harnessing the potential of psychological operations to enhance our operational effectiveness towards national security.
"This workshop is timely, given the evolving nature of modern warfare and the increasing importance of influencing perceptions, attitudes, and behaviours. This is in line with my leadership concept for the Armed Forces which is “to nurture a professional armed forces of Nigeria that is people-centric collaborative and capable of meeting its constitutional responsibilities in a joint and collaborative environment”.
"As you are all aware, the nation has in recent times grappled with complex security challenges and threats. These threats have brought to the fore some occurrences that threaten the peace and security of the nation and have undoubtedly continued to test the resolve of the Nigerian people and the capacity of security agencies to discharge their constitutional roles.
"The perpetrators of these heinous acts have over the years, threatened our co-existence. Their tactics of indiscriminate violence against innocent citizens have continually created fear and despair amongst the populace. Hence
"It is premised on this that we understand that the prevalent threats in Nigeria’s internal security landscape will not be tackled through kinetic operations alone.
"This is largely due to the continuous mutation in the nature and character of the threats as well as the asymmetric dimension that the threats have assumed within the nation’s contemporary operating environment.
"This situation therefore, presumes that the threat has since gone beyond purely traditional military actions but requires a combination of robust and well-coordinated non-kinetic efforts by all the stakeholders to support our kinetic actions," he said
In his remarks, the special guest of Honour, the Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Dr. Mohammed B. Bulama, said that by organising this workshop is a clear demonstration of the armed Forces of Nigeria's resolve to deepen Jointness and ensure that absolute peace and security are restored to our dear country.
"It is my sincere belief that this Workshop will provide the much-needed platform for extensive deliberations, consultations and cross-fertilisation of ideas that are purposefully aimed at proffering feasible, realistic, achievable and time-enduring strategies for psychological and influence operations. I also believe that the resolutions from this Workshop would contribute in entrenching peace and stability in our beloved country," he added
He reiterated that the military and media have to work together and continually find lasting solutions to the current security challenges in the country.
He said in asymmetric warfare, kinetic solutions as useful as it may be cannot solve half of the challenges.
"In Nigeria, Psychological Operations remains an essential option in the ongoing efforts to tackle the current security challenges, largely because in the country today, misinformation spreads faster than facts, and ideological extremism threatens unity.
Dr. Mohammed B. Bulama urged participants to consider three key roles psychological operations can play in the current security climate, which are Counter-Radicalisation and De-radicalisation: Boko Haram and other extremist groups do not rely solely on weapons—they rely on narratives.
"Psychological Operations provides the best opportunity for Nigeria to challenge these narratives, to create counter-messages that resonate emotionally and culturally, particularly among vulnerable youth.
"Winning Hearts and Minds in Conflict Zones: Psychological Operations, when effectively used to communicate genuine efforts in development, justice, and reconciliation by the government, will undermine the appeal of armed groups. This will ensure the local populations in conflict-prone areas see the government as a protector, not an occupier. Military force alone cannot guarantee long-term peace.
"Crisis Communication and Misinformation Management: Timely psychological messaging is very critical to guide public behaviour, prevent escalation, and reinforce national resilience. During crises, such as mass abductions or terrorist attacks, as we have seen in different parts of the country, the vacuum of verified information often becomes fertile ground for rumours and panic.
"Implementation Strategies. To effectively deploy Psychological Operations in Nigeria, the country needs to focus on:
"Capacity Building: Training personnel in psychological warfare, strategic communication, and behavioural science.
"Localised Messaging: Crafting messages in local languages and idioms that align with the values and realities of target audiences.
"Building Partnerships: Security agencies need to build strong partnerships with media houses, civil society, religious institutions, and tech platforms to ensure coordinated messaging.
"Strategic communications that are Data-Driven Campaigns: Utilising AI, social media and analytics to monitor sentiment, track propaganda, and measure impact, "he said
Retired Maj General Letam Wiwa, the keynote Speaker said decades of military intelligence experience to bear, stressing that psychological operations must be coordinated at the highest level of military command.
“Victory today is not just measured in territories gained, but in hearts won, perceptions shaped, and narratives controlled,” he remarked.
He described modern warfare as a “battle of the mind,” citing artificial intelligence-generated misinformation and the strategic use of media by insurgents. He recalled his time at Defence Headquarters and commended the Army for institutionalizing psychological operations as a strategic domain. He emphasized intelligence-led messaging, cultural competence, rapid response, morale-boosting initiatives, and outcome assessment as pillars of effective influence operations.
Major General Wiwa also shared lessons from global military campaigns and urged that psychological operations officers be properly trained, mentally supported, and integrated across all branches of the military. He advocated for influence strategies that are timely, data-driven, and aligned with both local realities and international standards.
In another goodwill message, Commander of the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, Major General Adeleke Ayannuga, said that the contemporary battlefield is no longer confined to the physical domains,” he said. “Social media and artificial intelligence are reshaping the information ecosystem a space where perceptions are influenced and decisions are made.”
Major General Ayannuga underscored the synergy between cyber warfare, information operations, and psychological campaigns. He noted that optimizing such operations within a joint environment is critical for strategic success.
He applauded the CDS for his forward-thinking leadership and urged participants to explore innovative strategies that will enhance inter-service collaboration.
SpyeTV News reports that this workshop, which focused on specific challenges, allowed military personnel to develop targeted strategies and solutions. It provides a platform for discussing new trends, technologies, and best practices in PsyOps, ensuring military personnel stay current and adaptable.
The Defence Headquarters Workshop on Psychological Operations will enhance Operational Effectiveness, which can influence the behaviour and decision-making of adversaries, supporting military objectives. The workshop will help military personnel develop skills to conduct effective PsyOps. It will improve understanding of Human Factors, psychology, sociology, and culture.
