The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, Nigerian Army Medal, has charged newly commissioned officers of the Nigerian Army to place national interest above personal considerations and uphold unwavering loyalty 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 of the new officers aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to expand manpower, reinforce frontline deployments and accelerate nationwide security stabilisation efforts under the recently declared State of Emergency on Security.
General Shaibu expressed confidence in the quality of training received by the officers, noting that their impressive parade display and weapon-handling skills demonstrate the Army’s rising professional standards amid heightened security demands. He urged them to remain apolitical, disciplined and fully subordinate to civil authority, stressing that constitutional loyalty and professionalism remain the pillars of military service.
He further reminded the officers that their commissioning comes at a critical time in Nigeria’s security history, marked by terrorism, banditry and evolving threats requiring courageous, mission-focused and ethically grounded leadership.
Earlier, the Commandant of NASI, Major General Frank Etim, said the curriculum was restructured to address emerging security realities. He disclosed that the 250 officers, including 14 females, underwent intensive courses in Counterterrorism, Counterinsurgency, Leadership, Physical Conditioning and Tactical Command to ensure they are combat-ready for ongoing and future operations across the country.
Awards were presented to officers who distinguished themselves in academics, field performance and leadership.
The Nigerian Army reiterated its commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s security action plan through expanded recruitment, rigorous training, enhanced readiness and strategic deployments.
In a related development, the Nigerian Army has commissioned a State-of-the-Art Wargaming Centre at the Department of Land Warfare, Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, as part of efforts to enhance strategic planning and operational effectiveness.
Receiving the COAS at the event, the Commandant of AFCSC, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Idris Alhaji, described the facility as a major advancement for the College, noting that it will significantly improve officers’ capacity for operational design, strategic thinking and combat decision-makin.
He commended General Shaibu for initiating and driving the project, assuring that the College will continue to provide world-class professional military education.
In his remarks, the COAS reaffirmed AFCSC's strategic role in producing officers capable of meeting evolving national security challenges. He said the Wargaming Centre will strengthen commanders’ ability to plan, rehearse and execute operations with precision in today’s fluid and technology-driven security environment.
General Shaibu reiterated his commitment to modernising all military training infrastructures to global standards and lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering support for the Army’s transformation drive.
He also commended the Commandant and the College community for their dedication to excellence.
