COAS reaffirms Nigerian Army’s global partnerships to strengthen national security

Crime Diary

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships with global institutions as part of ongoing efforts to enhance national security.

Speaking on April 29, 2026, while receiving a delegation led by Professor Randolph Charles Kent of King’s College London (KCL) at Army Headquarters, Abuja, Lt Gen Shaibu described the six‑year collaboration as a strategic enabler for building intellectual capacity, leadership development, and operational effectiveness. The partnership, facilitated through the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), expands access to world‑class military education and supports the Army’s drive toward a more professional, adaptive, and resilient force.

According to a statement by Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, the COAS emphasized that contemporary security challenges demand forward‑looking strategies anchored in collaboration, innovation, and knowledge‑sharing. He highlighted NARC’s role as a critical think tank in generating policy‑relevant ideas and fostering inter‑agency synergy to address Nigeria’s evolving threat landscape.

Lt Gen Shaibu also underscored the growing influence of the digital information ecosystem on national security, warning of vulnerabilities linked to information warfare and malign influence operations. He called for deeper academic and institutional collaboration to develop proactive, research‑driven solutions.

In his remarks, Professor Kent commended the Nigerian Army’s sustained commitment to partnership, noting that the Yale‑NARC African Leadership Centre programme thrives on mutual knowledge exchange and shared expertise. He said such collaborations are vital in navigating global uncertainties, fostering innovation, and strengthening collective capacity to respond to complex security challenges.