By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has underscored a new era of strategic military evolution, emphasizing that border security and indigenous technological advancement are key pillars of Nigeria’s future defense projection.
While giving his directives and summing up at the inaugural lecture of the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre (JDWC) on Tuesday, the CDS highlighted the military’s deliberate push towards self-reliance and regional collaboration to eliminate multifaceted security threats.
The CDS revealed that the military is prioritizing the strengthening of local defence production through the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and other local manufacturers. He also acknowledged the important role of border security to our internal security and the need to maintain good relations and cooperation with our neighbouring countries.
In response to various positions pushed by various stakeholders at the inaugural lecture, the CDS reiterated the importance of synergy and joint military operations pointing out that single service efforts will not always bring out the desired operational outcomes. He butressed this with some instances that portrayed the importance of jointness and imperative for the Services to work together leaning on the peculiar competencies of each Service.
General Oluyede also revealed that the outcome of the lecture would be presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to secure broader stakeholder buy-in and support for the implementation of recommendations arising from the inaugural lecture.
The Honourable Minister of Defence (HMoD), General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), who was the Special Guest of Honour, echoed the need for synergy. He described the core of the nation’s security strategy as a “whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach.”
The Minister emphasized that the JDWC, established in July 2025, serves as the intellectual engine room where different military branches learn to leverage one another’s strengths. He also noted that true operational superiority is achieved only when ground, naval, and air forces act as a single, overwhelming entity supported by the vigilance of the Nigerian citizenry.
Earlier in the ceremony, the Director General of the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre, Maj Gen AE Edet, detailed the significant strides made since the Centre’s inception six months ago. Supported by the CDS, the Centre has moved swiftly since its establishment with roadmaps and plans to ensure full operationalisation.
The Director General pledged that the JDWC would remain “relentlessly focused” on pushing the boundaries of technology and innovation to ensure collective national security and prosperity.
The inaugural lecture marks a milestone in institutionalizing joint military thinking, enhancing national defence coordination, and promoting a comprehensive, collaborative framework for tackling insecurity in Nigeria.
In apparent appreciation of the importance of Joint Doctrine to the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the event was attended by a very rich mix of Service Chiefs, former Chiefs of Defence Staff led by Gen Alani Akinrinade, former Service Chiefs, very senior military officers, members of the diplomatic community, heads of Nigerian security agencies among many other stakeholders.
