President Bola Tinubu has endorsed the leadership philosophy of Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, describing it as a foundation for building a more professional, adaptable and combat-ready Nigerian Army.
Tinubu made the remarks in the foreword to The Shaibu Doctrine: Mission Command and the Remaking of Nigeria’s Army at War, a book co-authored by Dr Muhammed Abubakar and Associate Professor Sunday Adejoh of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
The president said the doctrine reflected the Armed Forces’ responsibility to protect Nigeria and create conditions in which democracy and national development could thrive.
“As Commander-in-Chief, I have charged our Armed Forces with one mission: to secure Nigeria so that democracy and development can thrive,” Tinubu said.
Doctrine Emphasises Professionalism, Adaptability and Combat Readiness
Tinubu identified professionalism, adaptability, combat readiness and resilience as the four pillars underpinning Shaibu’s command philosophy.
He said these principles guided the Nigerian Army’s approach to training, equipment, military operations and leadership.
According to the president, the doctrine represents a shift away from military conservatism towards more mobile offensive operations, replacing a predominantly static defensive approach.
He also highlighted the reforms’ emphasis on adopting technology, producing military equipment locally, improving personnel welfare and strengthening adherence to military ethics.
“These were not abstract reforms. They were choices made in the heat of battle, with lives on the line and the nation watching,” Tinubu said.
Co-Author Explains the Purpose of the Book
Abubakar said the publication examines Shaibu’s leadership philosophy, focusing on Mission Command, troop welfare and decentralised decision-making as ways to improve operational effectiveness.
Speaking about the motivation behind the book, he said his professional interactions with Shaibu began when the latter served as a brigade commander in Bama. Their engagement continued during Shaibu’s tenure as Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai.
Abubakar said these experiences gave him insights into Shaibu’s management of military personnel and resources, as well as his efforts to maintain troop morale in difficult operational environments.
Following Shaibu’s appointment as Chief of Army Staff, Abubakar and Adejoh decided to document the leadership philosophy systematically, believing it could offer lessons for addressing the Army’s changing operational challenges.
PROSE Framework Guides Shaibu’s Command Philosophy
Abubakar explained that Shaibu’s leadership approach was built around five principles represented by the acronym PROSE: Professional Excellence, Robust Administration, Operational Readiness, Strategic Cooperation and Exemplary Leadership.
At the centre of the framework is a Soldier-First culture that prioritises the welfare, morale, training, dignity and empowerment of military personnel.
He said these elements were essential to maintaining combat effectiveness and ensuring soldiers were adequately supported to perform their duties.
The book examines how leadership, administration and personnel management can be aligned with the demands of military operations.
Mission Command Gives Field Officers Greater Decision-Making Authority
Abubakar described Mission Command as a leadership approach founded on trust, initiative and the empowerment of subordinate commanders to make decisions within their areas of responsibility.
Under the approach, senior commanders establish operational objectives, while commanders on the ground determine how best to achieve them based on conditions in the battlefield.
He said decentralising decisions could reduce delays, improve accountability among junior officers and increase the pace of military operations, particularly those involving clearing and holding territory.
“The core of Mission Command is trust,” Abubakar said, explaining that commanders facing immediate threats needed the authority to respond without waiting for several levels of approval.
He added, however, that decentralised decision-making could only deliver results when supported by adequate equipment, logistics, training and personnel welfare.
Intelligence Gaps and Air Support Remain Operational Challenges
Despite the potential benefits of the leadership approach, Abubakar identified intelligence gaps, insufficient persistent air support and the need for improved aerial surveillance as challenges affecting Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations.
He called for greater investment in human intelligence and stronger cooperation with credible community actors and private security organisations with local knowledge of areas affected by conflict.
He also advocated more sustained air support for ground troops and closer coordination between the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force.
According to Abubakar, strengthening Army Aviation and prioritising long-endurance drones could improve surveillance, battlefield awareness and commanders’ ability to respond to emerging threats.
He noted that Nigeria’s extensive borders, complex security environment and the asymmetric tactics used by armed groups required the military to continue adapting its strategies and capabilities.
Abubakar Calls for a Wider Approach to Combating Insecurity
Drawing on his experience in Nigeria’s North-East and North-West, Abubakar said counter-insurgency operations could not succeed through military action alone.
He called for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach involving security agencies, government institutions and local communities in efforts to address insecurity.
The military scholar said cooperation among these groups was necessary to respond to the challenges posed by insurgency, terrorism and banditry.
He added that the book was not intended to be a biography of Shaibu but an examination of a military strategy and the institutional changes needed to sustain operational effectiveness.
Book Examines Long-Term Army Reform and Institutional Capacity
Abubakar said the publication aims to encourage discussion about aligning military leadership, organisational structures and institutional culture with Nigeria’s security challenges.
He identified military expansion, fiscal discipline, personnel welfare and institutional adaptation as important considerations in strengthening the Army’s long-term capacity.
The book is intended to provide practical lessons for policymakers, military officers, cadets and Nigerians seeking to understand the principles shaping the Army’s leadership.
Abubakar said its central message was that effective leadership required commanders to trust their subordinates, invest in personnel, align administration with operations, encourage cooperation among security agencies and lead by example.
Book Presentation Scheduled for November 24 in Abuja
The Shaibu Doctrine: Mission Command and the Remaking of Nigeria’s Army at War is scheduled to be presented on November 24, 2026, at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja.
The publication documents Shaibu’s command philosophy and examines how its principles could inform leadership and institutional adaptation within the Nigerian Army.
