Nigeria's Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu completes first year as Army Chief

Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu has marked his first year as the 25th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Nigerian Army. Since assuming office on 30 October 2025, his leadership has focused on institutional restructuring and addressing security challenges, including insurgency in the North-East and banditry in the North-West.

Shaibu’s command is defined by the ‘PROSE’ philosophy: Professional Excellence, Robust Administration, Operational Readiness, Strategic Cooperation, and Exemplary Leadership. Central to this is a soldier-centred approach aimed at improving troop welfare, training, and morale to boost combat effectiveness.

Key structural reforms under his tenure include the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve divisions, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the recruitment of approximately 28,000 additional personnel. These changes, alongside investments in drones and intelligence technology, aim to shift the military from static defense toward more agile, offensive operations through mission command principles.