.Defence minister assures ECOMOG veterans contributions to peacekeeping in Africa to be documented, preserved
Linus Aleke in Abuja and Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan
President Bola Tinubu has applauded the management philosophy of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, describing it as the inspiration of a brand new Nigerian Army targeted on professionalism, adaptability, fight readiness and resilience.
Tinubu acknowledged that the 4 pillars underpinning Shaibu’s command philosophy additionally guided the Army’s strategy to coaching, gear, fight operations and management.
Also, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has reaffirmed the federal authorities’s dedication to documenting and preserving the legacy and sacrifices of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) in sustaining peace and safety in West Africa.
Also, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, yesterday assured veterans of the Armed Forces of sustained welfare initiatives geared toward making their lives extra snug after service, whereas calling for his or her higher participation within the nationwide safety structure.
The President described the doctrine as a big departure from army conservatism, noting that the Army had shifted from static defence in the direction of extra cellular offensive operations beneath Shaibu’s management.
Tinubu acknowledged this within the foreword to a ebook titled, ‘The Shaibu Doctrine: Mission Command and the Remaking of Nigeria’s Army at War’, co-authored by Dr. Muhammed Sani Abubakar and Associate Professor Sunday Adejoh of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
The President mentioned the doctrine mirrored the Armed Forces’ duty to safe Nigeria and create an surroundings through which democracy and improvement might thrive.
“As Commander-in-Chief, I have charged our Armed Forces with one mission: to secure Nigeria so that democracy and development can thrive,” he mentioned.
He added that the continuing reforms encompassed the adoption of expertise, the indigenisation of army instruments, improved personnel welfare and a renewed emphasis on army ethics.
“These were not abstract reforms. They were choices made in the heat of battle, with lives on the line and the nation watching,” the President mentioned.
The ebook examines Shaibu’s management philosophy, notably the function of Mission Command, troop welfare and decentralised decision-making in strengthening the Army’s operational effectiveness.
Speaking concerning the motivation behind the publication, co-author Muhammed Sani Abubakar mentioned his skilled interactions with Shaibu started when the latter served as a brigade commander in Bama and continued throughout his tenure as Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai.
He mentioned these experiences gave him insights into Shaibu’s strategy to managing personnel and army sources whereas sustaining troop morale in demanding operational environments.
Abubakar mentioned he and Adejoh determined to doc the philosophy systematically following Shaibu’s appointment as COAS, believing it provided classes related to the Army’s evolving operational challenges.
He defined that the philosophy was constructed round 5 pillars captured by the acronym PROSE: Professional Excellence, Robust Administration, Operational Readiness, Strategic Cooperation and Exemplary Leadership.
At its core, he mentioned, was a soldier-first tradition that prioritised personnel welfare, morale, coaching, dignity and empowerment because the foundations of fight effectiveness.
Abubakar described Mission Command as a management strategy based mostly on belief, initiative and the empowerment of subordinate commanders to make choices inside their respective areas of duty.
Under this strategy, he defined, senior commanders set operational aims whereas permitting subordinate commanders to find out the most effective methods to attain them, taking prevailing battlefield situations into consideration.
He mentioned the central message was that efficient management beneath difficult situations required commanders to belief their subordinates, spend money on personnel, align administration with operations, promote inter-agency cooperation and lead by instance.
The ebook is scheduled to be offered on 24 November 2026 on the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Defence gave the peace of mind when he obtained a delegation of ECOMOG veterans, led by Major General Ohifeme Ejimai (rtd), on the Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
According to a press release by the Minister of Defence’s Special Adviser on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the delegation visited the minister to temporary him on the group’s actions and ongoing initiatives.
Speaking through the go to, General Musa acknowledged the numerous human and monetary sources Nigeria dedicated to ECOMOG, emphasising that personnel who paid the supreme worth, notably throughout peacekeeping missions in Liberia and Sierra Leone, would by no means be forgotten.
He assured the delegation that ongoing efforts to doc the remaining information, casualties and historic property could be accomplished to make sure their correct preservation for posterity.
Earlier in his remarks, Major General Ejimai (rtd) supplied an replace on the standing of surviving Nigerian ECOMOG veterans, noting their readiness to proceed contributing to nationwide improvement and safety.
He urged the ministry to deal with current gaps in documentation and contemplate establishing a devoted remembrance day to honour the a whole bunch of Nigerian troops who misplaced their lives within the pursuit of peace and stability in West Africa.
The Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) was a regional peacekeeping and peace enforcement drive established by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 1990.
Driven largely by Nigerian management and troops, ECOMOG performed a decisive function in restoring constitutional order, defending civilian populations and stabilising West Africa throughout advanced regional crises.
The CDS gave the peace of mind throughout his interactive session with veterans from the South-west area at Headquarters, 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Ibadan, as half of his ongoing nationwide engagement with veterans.
General Oluyede whereas addressing the veterans, appreciated them for his or her years of sacrifice in holding the nation united and peaceable, saying “Your service and sacrifice will never be forgotten by the nation.”
He famous that the federal authorities stays dedicated to bettering the welfare of veterans in appreciation of their sacrifices, citing the latest increment in salaries of serving personnel and the consequential adjustment of veterans’ pensions as an illustration of the Federal Government’s gratitude to the Armed Forces for his or her service to the nation.
He added that points arising from the consequential adjustment of pensions are being addressed.
The CDS additional outlined a number of initiatives being pursued by the Defence Headquarters to enhance the welfare of each serving personnel and veterans which embrace his dedication to dedicate no less than one hospital in every geopolitical zone particularly to cater for the medical wants of veterans, along with current healthcare preparations.
He knowledgeable the veterans that information collation is ongoing and essential processes are at superior levels in the direction of actualisation.
The CDS additionally disclosed ongoing efforts to ascertain a low-interest mortgage scheme for veterans to allow them have interaction in productive ventures and companies after service.
He defined the not too long ago launched Defence Headquarters Online Shop in collaboration with Konga, noting that efforts are ongoing to increase the scheme to carry extra main companies on board to supply discounted items and companies to personnel and veterans.
He referred to as on veterans to proceed to contribute their quota to peace and safety of their respective communities and to maintain prayers for serving personnel as they attempt to maintain the nation peaceable and safe.
During the interactive session, veterans raised urgent issues and sought clarifications on points affecting them, which have been promptly addressed by the CDS.
On hand to supply additional clarifications have been the Chief of Defence Administration, Rear Admiral Gideon Kachim; the Commandant, Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Air Vice Marshal NI Iloh; and the Chairman, Military Pensions Board, Major General JE Osifoh.
Issues bordering on veterans’ entitlements, welfare programmes and different administrative issues have been extensively mentioned.
The President of the Retired Army, Navy and Air Force Officers’ Association (RANAO), Major General HA Salihu (rtd), in his remarks, thanked the CDS for the engagement, urging veterans to proceed to embrace dialogue in resolving points of concern.
