The Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), OFR, has called on the Nigerian Army to deepen joint operations, strengthen inter-agency collaboration and prioritise troop welfare to sustain recent security gains across the country.
The Minister made the call on Monday, 15 December 2025, while delivering remarks at the opening ceremony of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference 2025, held at Nebo Hall, Abalti Barracks, Ojuelegba, Lagos.
General Musa described the annual conference as a critical strategic platform for reviewing the Army’s operational posture, assessing readiness and professionalism, and aligning future plans with Nigeria’s national security priorities. He noted that the forum provides senior commanders the opportunity to draw lessons from ongoing operations, examine emerging threats and develop practical responses to strengthen the Army’s constitutional responsibilities.
He said Nigeria continues to confront a complex security landscape characterised by terrorism, banditry and other asymmetric threats, stressing that adaptive leadership and strategic clarity remain essential. According to him, the outcomes of the conference are expected to produce actionable recommendations that will enhance operational effectiveness in 2026 and beyond.
Commending officers and soldiers for their resilience and professionalism, the Defence Minister observed that the operational capacity of terrorist groups and criminal elements has been significantly degraded across several theatres. He attributed these gains to the courage of troops, improved planning and execution, and the growing impact of coordinated joint and multi-agency operations.
General Musa emphasised that sustained success depends on unity of effort, noting that jointness and inter-service cooperation are no longer optional but fundamental to effective national defence. He called for strengthened intelligence sharing, coordinated planning and closer collaboration among the Armed Forces and other security agencies to consolidate gains and prevent the resurgence of insecurity.
On welfare, the Minister paid tribute to fallen personnel who made the supreme sacrifice, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to the care and support of wounded soldiers and the families of deceased personnel, describing their welfare as a “sacred obligation.”
He further stated that security remains a core pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, assuring that the Ministry of Defence will continue to provide strategic direction, policy support and capability development to keep the Armed Forces professional, responsive and future-ready.
The Defence Minister urged the Chief of Army Staff and senior commanders to ensure that recommendations from the conference translate into concrete operational actions, adding that strategic discussions must result in measurable outcomes on the battlefield.
He wished the Nigerian Army a successful conference and reaffirmed the commitment of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria to upholding democracy and constitutional order.
