The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant ⁹ Waidi Shaibu, has unveiled a bold and forward-looking Command Philosophy designed to reposition the Nigerian Army as a highly professional, agile, combat-effective and resilient force.
Lieutenant General Shaibu articulated the transformative vision on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, during a lecture delivered to participants of Senior Course 48 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.
In a statement issued by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the COAS emphasised that effective leadership in today’s dynamic security environment must be anchored on character, courage and genuine concern for personnel. He noted that the Nigerian Army currently operates in an increasingly volatile, complex and multi-dimensional threat landscape, with ongoing engagements across all geopolitical zones in counterinsurgency, counterterrorism and other internal security operations.
According to him, these operational realities demand not only tactical competence but also sustained institutional strength, innovation and adaptability.
Lieutenant General Shaibu explained that the new Command Philosophy is intended to accelerate the transformation of the Nigerian Army into a force fully capable of decisively fulfilling its constitutional mandate within joint and multi-agency frameworks. He described innovation as the engine of progress and resilience as the defining spirit of the Nigerian soldier, stressing that mission accomplishment must remain the unyielding guiding principle of the Service.
The philosophy is built around five mutually reinforcing pillars encapsulated in the acronym PROSE, which stands for Professional Excellence, Robust Administration, Operational Readiness, Strategic Cooperation and Exemplary Leadership. He said the pillars are anchored on a Soldier-First Culture that prioritises personnel welfare, morale, training, dignity and empowerment as the foundation of combat effectiveness and institutional credibility.
The COAS further highlighted that operational success goes beyond battlefield victories to include public trust, strengthened civil-military relations and strict adherence to the rule of law. He charged participants, whom he described as the future operational and strategic leaders of the Nigerian Army, to internalise the philosophy and translate it into measurable impact across formations and units.
Observers note that the introduction of the PROSE-driven Command Philosophy signals a decisive strategic shift for the Nigerian Army as it seeks to balance sustained internal security operations with long-term force development, modernisation and institutional reforms in response to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
