By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has directed the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, to continually review and align its training curriculum with Nigeria’s evolving security challenges to enhance operational effectiveness across the Armed Forces.
General Shaibu issued the directive on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the Commandant of AFCSC, Air Vice Marshal Alfred Olugbenga Shogbanmu, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
The COAS noted that Nigeria’s security environment has become increasingly complex and dynamic, requiring proactive, forward-looking institutional responses. He stressed that professional military education must remain adaptive and future-oriented to adequately prepare officers for emerging and unconventional threats.
According to him, recent strategic developments, including the establishment of a new Western Theatre Command, underscore the urgent need for training programmes that reflect current operational realities while strengthening joint planning, coordination and execution among the services.
Lieutenant General Shaibu commended AFCSC for its critical role in producing highly skilled staff officers for the Armed Forces of Nigeria, describing the institution as a cornerstone in the development of military professionalism, leadership capacity and inter-service collaboration. He added that the quality of graduates from the College continues to positively impact command, control and coordination across military operations nationwide.
The Army Chief reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s sustained commitment to supporting the College through infrastructure development and capacity-building initiatives, stressing that such support remains vital to maintaining high training standards and operational readiness.
In his remarks, Air Vice Marshal Shogbanmu expressed appreciation for the consistent support of the Nigerian Army, citing the establishment of a simulation centre and the rehabilitation of key facilities as major interventions that have significantly enhanced training outcomes and learning conditions at the College.
He assured the COAS of AFCSC’s resolve to continuously refine its academic and professional programmes in line with contemporary security demands, while deepening inter-service and inter-agency cooperation to further strengthen Nigeria’s national security architecture.
