Tag: COAS Oluyede

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede has emphasised that cooperation between the Nigerian Army and the media is not a matter of convenience but a strategic necessity for national development and security.

Oluyede stated this on Tuesday while declaring open a three-day seminar organized by the Directorate of Army Public Relations (DAPR) for its officers, sister security agencies, and defence correspondents.

The seminar, themed “Enhancing Responsible Media Reportage of Nigerian Army Operations in a Joint and Multi-Agency Environment for Enhanced National Security,” aims to strengthen collaboration and promote accurate reporting of military operations.

According to the army chief, synergy with the media plays a crucial role in shaping public understanding, mobilizing national support, and highlighting the sacrifices made by troops in defending the country.

He added that the seminar’s theme reflects the importance of accountability, balance, and responsibility in covering military activities—especially in a joint environment where effective cooperation among security agencies is essential.

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Represented by the Commander, Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, Maj-Gen. Mohammed Abdullahi, Oluyede said in an era where the battle for hearts and minds was as critical as the battle in the field, responsible media reportage has become a key enabler of operational success, pointing out that the perception of the Nigerian Army, and indeed of all security agencies, “is largely shaped by the narratives carried in the media space.”

Oluyede said that with the rise of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, the speed and reach of information — both genuine and false — have multiplied.

He added that fake news, manipulated images, and deepfakes now pose real threats to national cohesion and operational integrity.

“Therefore, our collective task is not only to counter misinformation but to ensure that truth and verified facts dominate public discourse.

“Through initiatives such as this seminar, we seek to build a shared framework for responsible, conflict-sensitive reporting — one that amplifies truth, promotes professionalism, and safeguards national interest. It is our collective duty to ensure that the stories of our men and women in uniform are told accurately, respectfully, and in a way that strengthens the bond between the Armed Forces and the people we serve.

“To the participants, I urge you to make the best use of this platform. Learn, share experiences, and build the capacity to navigate today’s complex media environment. The lectures and discussions during this seminar have been carefully curated to address the evolving challenges of defense communication, crisis reporting, and information management,” he said.

He urged the seminar participants to learn, share experiences, and build the capacity to navigate the complex media environment as papers to be presented have been carefully curated to address the evolving challenges of defence communication, crisis reporting, and information management.

The Acting Director Nigerian Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele, noted that in today’s dynamic security environment, the role of the media go beyond reporting events, extending to shaping public perception, rallying national support, countering misinformation and influencing the outcome of military operations.

She said that with the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the rapid spread of information through digital platforms, narratives could be manipulated within seconds – fake news, doctored images and deepfakes now posed as much threat as enemy propaganda on the battlefield.

“This reality underscores why fact-checking, verification and responsible journalism have become indispensable to both national security and public trust. No doubt, warfare is not fought solely with weapons but also in the information domain. Hybrid threats, disinformation campaigns and Artificial Intelligence-driven fake content are being weaponized to erode public confidence, discredit institutions and demoralize security forces.

“To defeat these threats, we must counter falsehoods with verified facts, replace propaganda with truth, and ensure that the Nigerian public is accurately informed. This calls for professionalism, ethics and patriotism from all media stakeholders,” she said.

Anele pledged the directorate commitment to ensuring access to timely, credible and verifiable information that would enable responsible reportage while safeguarding national security interests.

She added, “For participants at this Seminar, our role is not only to inform but to ensure that narratives surrounding security operations are accurate, constructive and supportive of national security objectives. Together, we must ensure that our troops win not only the battles in the field but also the battles of perception and information in the public domain. We must encourage and appreciate the huge sacrifices of troops, their gallantry sacrifice must be reinforced by responsible media reportage that amplifies their achievements, counters false narratives and fosters unity among Nigerians.”

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has called for a comprehensive review of training and doctrine in the Nigerian Army to address the country’s evolving security challenges emphasizing the pressing need to adapt training to the current realities.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Doctrine and Training Conference 2025 held at the Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command in Minna, Niger State, Oluyede emphasized the need for a paradigm shift in training methods to combat modern threats effectively.

Citing issues such as terrorism, insurgency, banditry, farmer-herder conflicts, and economic crimes, the Army Chief stated that the security environment requires a renewed focus on realistic training and strategic alignment with modern equipment. 

“While doctrine is about how we fight today’s battle, concept, which in the ideal sense, is the harbinger of doctrine, focuses on how we change the army for future battles. The concept advances ideas for significant change based on proposed approaches to operations and technology. When a concept is validated, its ideas are transformed into doctrine. Hence, both concept and doctrine ultimately shape the Army’s training and procurement efforts to enable the Force to achieve national objectives. 

“This underscores my commitment to realistic training, adequate troop sustenance, pragmatic equipment procurement, and maintenance as critical requirements for combat readiness and operational success in the Nigerian Army.

“It is no news that Nigeria’s current security and defence environments are characterised by both transnational and domestic challenges. These challenges include terrorism, insurgency, banditry, and conflicts between farmers and herders. Additionally, we face widespread economic crimes related to oil and gas pipeline vandalism, as well as secessionist agitations, among other concerns. 

“In addressing these challenges, the Nigerian Army has prioritised equipment upgrades and manpower boosts in the past decade. However, the intensity of our commitment to resolving the security issues at hand has made it difficult to comprehensively review how we train to fight today’s battle with the modern equipment we have acquired vis-a-vis the nature of the threat we face”, he said.

Oluyede said that the conference theme, “Understanding Nigerian Army Doctrine for Effective Training within a Joint Environment,” aligns with his command philosophy of transforming the Army into a well-motivated and combat-ready force. 

Addressing participants, the Army Chief urged key stakeholders in the training value chain to propose innovative ideas to improve the Army’s training curriculum and operational readiness emphasizing that the principle of “training hard in peace to bleed less in war” must guide their deliberations.

The CIAS promised improved accommodation, training aids, and welfare packages for instructors and students of the Training Command.

He further added that the Army is doing its best to ensure that it deals with every terrorist or terrorist group appropriately, adding that in recent times, more troops have been drafted to the field to put an end to terrorism and insurgency.

“Most times, these terrorists run away from us. But be that as it may, we are still doing our best to ensure that we deal with them appropriately.”

In his address, the Commander, of Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Nigeria Army, Major General Kelvin Aligbe said the  Conference fulfils the agenda of the training pillar of the COAS Command Philosophy with a new emphasis for tailor-made approach to training that can respond to the multi-faceted and sometimes mutating

security challenges the Nigerian Army is tasked to mitigate. 

“This annual doctrinal ritual sets the tone for training activities in all Nigerian Army training schools and centres by drawing inspiration from the extant Nigerian Army’s Proactive Responsive Doctrine to guide our training on how we should fight. “

Aligbe noted the need for the Army to work with other services, government security agencies as well as non-governmental stakeholders to secure the Country’s prosperity

Read Also: Acting COAS Oluyede brings new vigor to combat terrorism, CDS assures legislators 

“At the national level, the Nigerian Army would be operating largely as part of a joint task force or multi-agency outfit while retaining the

readiness to do same under a multinational force within a regional or global arrangement. It is, therefore, accepted that the first step to

achieving the desired effectiveness within a joint or multinational environment is to have well-trained and mission-capable troops”, he said.

The Nigerian Army Manual on Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Warfare  was launched during the conference as the Commander said that 10,000 copies have been produced and would be

distributed through the Nigerian Army schools and training centres.

 The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, on Wednesday celebrated Christmas with sick and wounded soldiers in action.

The Army boss assured them that their sacrifices would never go in vain.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oluyede said this at a Christmas luncheon with the sick and wounded soldiers at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna.

The COAS assured that the welfare of officers, soldiers and their families, including the injured and those who lost their lives remained his top priority.

He reaffirmed the readiness of the Nigerian Army to up-scale issues to foster professionalism and combat-readiness under his watch.

Oluyede, represented by the Corps Commander Artillery, Maj.-Gen. Marcus Kangye, said the issues towards fostering professionalism and combat-readiness would be achieved alongside a stronger emphasis on maintaining sound administration.

To this end, he pledged to prioritise personnel welfare, recognising  excellence and ensure an efficient system of rewards and sanctions.

The Army Chief said: “All these are in furtherance of my command philosophy.

“Which is to consolidate the transformation of the Nigerian Army towards bequeathing a well-motivated and combat-ready force that can effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency environment”

He thanked all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their sacrifices and untiring commitment in tackling the numerous security challenges facing the country.

“This is especially to those deployed in the various theatres and peace keeping operations that would not likely be with their loved ones during the festive period due to exigency of duty.

Read Also: Oil production must go up at all cost, says COAS

“The collective efforts of our troops towards securing lives and properties are well appreciated by well-meaning Nigerians and the allies of Nigeria,” he said.

Oluyede charged all the Nigerian Army personnel to continue to remain focused, disciplined and loyal to constituted authority, while ensuring that they fully commit to achieving constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency environment.

He urged them to maintain the spirit of patriotism and continue to give their best in discharging their assigned duties and responsibilities.

As they celebrate Christmas, the COAS enjoined them to use the opportunity to remember and pray for the reposed of the souls of departed gallant colleagues who paid the supreme prize in the course of defending their fatherland, including the immediate past COAS, Late Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.

“The Nigerian Arny will ever remain

committed, determined and focused on winning all land battles in defence of the territorial integrity of Nigeria, protect her national interests and accomplish other tasks in aid of civil authority within a joint and multi-agency environment,” Oluyede assured.

Earlier, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Nigeria Army, Maj.-Gen. Mayirenso Saraso, said the Christmas celebration provides a unique and solid avenue to appreciate the sacrifices, loyalty and commitment of gallant troops in 1 Division Area of Responsibility (AOR).

Saraso said the security situation in the Division’s AOR has remained volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous.

He, however, said the Division has ensured stability in the AOR.

This, according to him, is exemplified by the relative security being enjoyed along the strategic Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road and the Abuja-Kaduna road/rail

corridor.

He added that several kidnapped victims have been rescued or released from captivity unconditionally, while many bandits have also laid down their arms due to the division’s proactive kinetic and non-kinetic engagements.

“These modest successes have been made possible through the collective dedication and sacrifices of our gallant troops in the field.

“We in 1 Division and indeed the Nigerian Army as a whole must ensure that our troops are continuously motivated to accomplish all statutory or assigned tasks,” he said.

He observed that the lunch was a token of appreciation for the wounded in action and sick soldiers’ hard work and sacrifices throughout 2024.

The GOC said it was aimed at reinvigorating their commitments to securing the division’s AOR and to ensure that no safe haven exist for terrorist or insurgent activities within 1 Division AOR.

(NAN)

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has decorated the acting Chief of Army Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, with the rank of Lieutenant General. 

Tinubu, who performed the decoration ceremony in his office at the State House, Abuja, also had the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and the other service chiefs in attendance. 

Read Also: Tinubu appoints Oluyede as acting COAS

Tinubu named Oluyede as acting Chief of Army Staff about six days ago to fill the office in the absence of Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, who is receiving medical care abroad. 

Details later…