The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu, on Monday said the Army had detected the activities of foreign jihadists around Nigeria’s borders and assured Nigerians that the threat would be decisively confronted.
He stated this at the grand finale of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration 2026 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, an event graced by President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The event was themed, “Protecting the Nation and Serving the People: A Way Forward for the Nigerian Army.”
There have been attacks by armed militants in neighbouring countries, including the recent airport attack in Niger by JNIM, which claimed casualties.
Also, there have been efforts by the Islamic State of West Africa Province to infiltrate and overrun military bases in Nigeria, with the troops rising to the occasion to foil the attacks.
Speaking on Monday, Shaibu said, “We have already noticed the footprints of foreign jihadists across our borders. However, I would like to assure us all that the Nigerian Army is alert and equal to the task.
“Like our forebears who overcame the challenges of their generations in the two World Wars, the Nigerian Civil War and the ECOMOG missions, the Nigerian Army of today will certainly prevail in confronting the security challenges of our generation.”
He said the Nigerian Army had continued to evolve in response to changing security realities while remaining committed to defending the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He said the Army remained guided by the values of selfless service, loyalty, honour, courage and sacrifice.
“This celebration is also a reaffirmation of our commitment to protecting the nation and serving the people, regardless of the challenges of any era.
“It is important to note that this year’s celebration comes at a crucial period when over 80 per cent of Nigerian troops are fully committed to ongoing operations against diverse security challenges across the country,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Tinubu, represented by Shettima, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges through the adoption of emerging technologies, enhanced military capacity and sustained investment in indigenous defence production.
The President said the Federal Government would modernise the Nigerian Army to strengthen its operational capabilities and improve combat readiness in response to contemporary security threats.
He said, “My administration is firmly committed to countering contemporary threats through the adoption of emerging technologies and the building of capacity across all battle spaces, thereby improving operational planning and combat readiness.
“Accordingly, focus on sustained research and development in defence aimed at advancing technologies and strengthening homegrown innovations is steadily progressing.
“The revitalisation of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria stands at the heart of this ambition, and the partnership represented by this forum promises fresh momentum for local production, the creation of skilled employment, and the self-reliance that grows from a nation able to arm itself.”
The President said the government remained committed to modernising the Army to enable it to confront emerging security threats more effectively.
“This administration is committed to modernising our Army to enhance its capacity to meet contemporary security challenges.
“We, therefore, align with the aim of the organisers to amplify Nigeria’s leadership in defence diplomacy and enhance our Army’s operational capabilities through shared expertise.
“To this end, successive governments have made efforts to reposition DICON, and the hosting of the African Land Forces Forum is a welcome development that will promote the growth of our defence industries.
“It is my hope that this strategic partnership will significantly boost DICON’s capacity to produce high-end combat equipment while advancing local content development,” he said.
Commending officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, Tinubu said, “To the officers and men of the Nigerian Army, you carry a trust that few are asked to bear, and you carry it with an honour that steadies the whole nation.
“Serve the people with the same devotion you bring to defending them, for the uniform commands respect only when it protects the weak and upholds the dignity of every citizen.
“The future we seek of a secure and prosperous Nigeria within a stable and confident Africa will be won by the discipline, the sacrifice and the unity that this gathering represents.”
He congratulated the Army on its 163rd anniversary and praised its contributions to national, regional and global peace and security.
“Across the arc of our history, Nigerian soldiers have stood firm when the nation was most vulnerable and held the line so that ordinary life might continue.
“In markets and classrooms, on farms and along the quiet roads of our communities, the peace citizens enjoy is the harvest of vigilance maintained far from public view, often at the greatest personal sacrifice,” he said.
Tinubu also commended the Nigerian Army for jointly hosting the African Land Forces Forum, describing the collaboration as a demonstration of the value of partnerships between the military and the private sector.
According to him, the partnership will promote intelligence sharing, strengthen border security cooperation, build counter-terrorism capacity, enhance cybersecurity resilience, address climate-related security risks and explore the application of artificial intelligence to national security.
“It is my hope that your interactions cover these areas,” he added.
The President also paid tribute to fallen soldiers.
“Their courage lives in the freedom we breathe, and the families they left behind remain a sacred responsibility of this nation. Their sacrifices will not be in vain, and their families will not be forgotten,” he said.
In his remarks, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara congratulated the Nigerian Army on its 163rd anniversary, describing the decision to host the event in Port Harcourt as evidence that Rivers State is peaceful and secure.
Fubara commended the professionalism of the Army and called for improved welfare for military personnel, while reaffirming his administration’s support for the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.
Among the dignitaries at the ceremony were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Olufemi Oluyede and other senior government and military officials.
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