“COAS Sounds Alarm: Nigeria’s Future Officers ‘Not Battle-Ready’ — Orders NDA to Overhaul Training or Risk National Security”
......Says Enough of Classroom Soldiers! Orders NDA to Produce Real Warriors for Modern Battlefields
By Passman Akpos
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has called for a more battle-hardened and forward-leaning training regime for cadets of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), stressing that the realities of modern warfare demand officers who are mentally, physically and technologically equipped for contemporary threats.
The Army Chief delivered the charge on Tuesday, 26 November 2025, during a courtesy visit to Army Headquarters, Abuja, by the Commandant of the NDA, Major General Oluyemi Olatoye.
Lt. Gen. Shaibu emphasized that the NDA must intensify training anchored on purposeful leadership, discipline, character, courage and strategic thinking—key ingredients he said are necessary to bridge operational gaps and sustain battlefield dominance.
He highlighted the urgent need to strengthen the Academy’s research architecture, particularly the Department of Military Science, to bolster Nigeria’s defence innovation ecosystem. The COAS said robust, mission-driven research will “provide the intellectual backbone required for a modern, responsive and technologically advanced fighting force,” while also supporting the growth of the national defence industry.
Calling for a comprehensive curriculum overhaul, General Shaibu urged the Academy to adopt training modules that reflect evolving security challenges. These include intensified night operations training, enhanced physical fitness standards, the integration of artificial intelligence, and deeper immersion in emerging warfare domains.
According to him, such reforms are essential to shaping officers who embody the “warrior ethos” and can effectively drive his Command Philosophy: “To Advance the Transformation of the Nigerian Army into a More Professional, Adaptable, Combat Ready and Resilient Force Capable of Decisively Discharging its Constitutional Responsibilities Within a Joint and Multi-Agency Environment.”
He pledged full support to the NDA leadership, affirming his commitment to ensuring that the Academy consistently produces officers who are strategically sharp, operationally competent, and fully prepared for the nation’s evolving security demands.
In his response, the Commandant, Major General Oluyemi Olatoye, congratulated the COAS on his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in him to steer the premier military training institution. He described the NDA as the “training factory” responsible for moulding the next generation of Armed Forces officers.
General Olatoye assured that he would consolidate the achievements of his predecessors and work closely with the Army leadership to sustain the Academy’s vision of producing disciplined, professional and combat-ready officers capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
APPOLONIA ANELELieutenant ColonelActing Director, Army Public Relations26 November 2025
