As Nigeria continues to grapple with complex security challenges, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has called on newly trained soldiers to demonstrate courage, professionalism and unwavering commitment in confronting bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements threatening national security.
The Army Chief gave the charge on Thursday during the graduation ceremony of the Restore Hope Programme for recruits of the 90 Regular Recruit Intake at the Depot Nigerian Army Shooting Range in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Addressing the graduating recruits, Lieutenant General Shaibu described the nation’s security environment as increasingly complex and unpredictable, requiring a new generation of soldiers capable of adapting to evolving threats.
According to him, criminal groups operating as bandits, kidnappers and terrorists have continued to inflict hardship on Nigerians through abductions, attacks on communities and the destruction of lives and property.
“The security challenges confronting Nigeria today are complex, uncertain and ambiguous. Terrorism, banditry and other asymmetric threats demand not only courage, but also intelligence, discipline and strategic thinking. The era of relying solely on conventional responses to unconventional threats is behind us,” the COAS stated.
The Army Chief urged the recruits, who are expected to be formally inducted into military service in two days, to remain steadfast and uncompromising in the discharge of their duties. He stressed the importance of adhering strictly to the Rules of Engagement and maintaining the highest standards of military ethics while carrying out operations.
Lieutenant General Shaibu congratulated the recruits for successfully completing the rigorous military training programme, noting that their graduation marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to defending the nation and protecting its citizens.
He further assured them that the Nigerian Army is investing significantly in modern combat enablers and advanced military capabilities to enhance operational effectiveness and improve the safety of troops deployed across various theatres of operation.
The Restore Hope Programme, a specialised military initiative, was established to strengthen professionalism, discipline, resilience and loyalty among recruits. The programme is also designed to prepare soldiers to effectively respond to emerging and evolving security threats facing the country.
The graduation of the latest batch of recruits comes at a critical time when security agencies are intensifying efforts to combat terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminality across different parts of Nigeria.
For the young soldiers graduating from the programme, the ceremony represented not only the completion of a demanding training process but also the beginning of a solemn responsibility to defend the sovereignty of Nigeria and restore hope to communities affected by insecurity.
