The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, security agencies, the media, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, and local communities to build Nigeria’s national resilience against emerging security threats.
The charge came as the Defence Headquarters concluded a two-day Psychological Operations Workshop in Abuja, where participants emphasized the importance of strategic communication and influence operations in preventing conflicts, countering misinformation, and fostering national unity.
Represented by the Chief of Defence Training, Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye, at the workshop held from July 23 to 24, 2026, General Oluyede reaffirmed the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s commitment to using psychological and influence operations as strategic tools for conflict prevention, national stabilisation, and sustainable peace.
According to a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the workshop, themed “Building National Resilience: The Role of Influence Operations in Conflict Prevention and Stabilization,” highlighted the growing importance of influence operations in addressing the root causes of conflict, combating misinformation and disinformation, strengthening public trust, and promoting peaceful coexistence.
General Oluyede described the workshop as timely, noting that effective influence operations have become indispensable in tackling modern security challenges and enhancing national stability.
The Special Guest of Honour, Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Dr. Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos, represented by the Director of News, Hajiya Halima Musa, stressed the critical role of strategic communication in countering hostile narratives and safeguarding Nigeria’s unity.
In his keynote address, the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, underscored the need for credible communication, public engagement, and stronger collaboration among stakeholders, describing influence operations as a vital instrument for building trust, national cohesion, and resilience.
At the end of the workshop, participants drawn from the Armed Forces, security and intelligence agencies, government institutions, academia, civil society organisations, and the media adopted a series of recommendations aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s resilience through coordinated influence operations and enhanced strategic communication.
Among the key recommendations were deeper inter-agency collaboration, institutional capacity building, improved public engagement, and the integration of influence operations into national conflict prevention and stabilisation strategies.
The workshop concluded with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to sustained collaboration in countering misinformation, preventing violent extremism, strengthening public confidence in state institutions, and promoting lasting peace, unity, and national development across Nigeria.
