CDS, COAS Champion Inter-Agency Synergy to Tackle Asymmetric Threats

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, have underscored the critical necessity of inter-agency collaboration as the cornerstone for strengthening the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and fostering national development. The military chiefs issued these charges on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, during separate keynote lectures delivered to participants of Course 34 at the National Defence College (NDC) in Abuja.

Strengthening the Core: The CDS Vision

Delivering a lecture titled “Strengthening the Armed Forces of Nigeria for National Security and Development,” General Oluyede asserted that national security is the bedrock of economic prosperity. He noted that a secure environment is essential for citizens to sustain their livelihoods and for the government to attract large-scale development across all sectors.

General Oluyede identified terrorism, insurgency, kidnapping, and banditry as the primary hurdles to stability. To combat these, he highlighted the Federal Government’s adoption of “Whole-of-Government” and “Whole-of-Society” approaches.

Key Institutional Pillars Mentioned

NCCSALW: National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.

NCCC: National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre.

Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell: A strategic hub for intelligence sharing.

The CDS emphasized that under his command, the AFN has successfully integrated kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, leading to mass surrenders of terrorists and a significant reduction in criminal dominance through simultaneous nationwide operations.

Redefining the Fight: COAS on Asymmetric Warfare

In a complementary session titled “Combating Asymmetric Threats for National Security,” the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, called for a tactical shift toward more robust asymmetric operations. While reaffirming the Nigerian Army’s commitment to its constitutional mandate, the COAS was candid about the challenges hampering current operations, including:

• Information Gaps: The need for more timely and actionable intelligence.
• Resource Constraints: Inadequate combat enablers and manpower.
• Local Capacity: The ongoing struggle with limited domestic production of military hardware.

To bridge these gaps, Lt. Gen. Shaibu revealed plans to increase annual recruitment quotas, procure advanced combat equipment, and ramp up the deployment of Special Forces across volatile regions.

A United Front

The Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, commended the service chiefs for their personal engagement with the Course 34 participants. He noted that the insights provided would form a “common ground” for security agencies to synchronize their efforts.

The event concluded with a robust interactive sessions, where participants engaged the military leadership on practical solutions to Nigeria’s evolving security architecture.