Legal Officers Are Indispensable Partners – COAS

By Sani Aliyu, Zaria

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. General Waidi Shaibu says Legal Officers remain indispensable partners in operational planning, execution and decision making, ensuring that Military objectives are achieved within the bounds of the law.

He stated this at the Nigerian Army School of Legal Services 2026 Training Workshop held at the Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau Auditorium, Basawa Zaria, on Monday.

Represented by Commandant, School of Infantry, Major-General Muhammad Nura Inuwa said, the Workshop is designed to deepen participants understanding of the Legal framework governing Military operations and strengthen their capacity to provide sound guidance in support of Commanders at all levels.

The Army Chief added that the contemporary security environment continues to present dynamic and multifaceted threats that demand not only operational excellence but also unwavering adherence to the constitution, extant law, applicable international legal obligations and established rules of engagement.

This aligns squarely with the Command’s philosophy which aimed at transforming the Nigerian Army into a more professional, adoptive, combat ready and resilient force capable of decisively discharging its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi agency environment.

The Chief of Army Staff who expressed confidence that the knowledge and insights gained during the Workshop will further enhance operational effectiveness reinforce Military discipline and strengthen public confidence in the professionalism of the Nigerian Army. “As we continue to confront the nation’s security challenges it is imperative that our operations are conducted with the highest standards of professionalism, accountability and respect for the rule of law”.

The Theme of the Workshop is “Combating Insecurity In Nigeria: The Role of Law In Ensuring Operational Efficiency”.

Delivering a keynote address, the Chief of Training (Army), Major-General V.U. Okoro who was represented by the Commandant, Depot, Nigerian Army Brig. General Usman Ahmad said insecurity in Nigeria remains one of the greatest threats to our nation’s peace and development.

General Okoro added that, the Nigerian Armed Forces, in collaboration with other security agencies have made remarkable strides in ensuring safe nation for all.

He said its impact is felt not only in the battlefield but also in communities, worship centres and homes.

According to him, it is a battle that demands the collective efforts of all stakeholders, government, security agencies, the judiciary, civil society and indeed all Nigerians.

The Chief of Training said Nigerian Armed Forces, as the very pillar of our national security architecture has been at the forefront in the fight against insecurity in ensuring that the nation is free to live in.

He said the training workshop will greatly be of immense benefit to the participants in engendering proactiveness between the legal officers and commanders.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Acting Director, Legal Services (Army), Colonel SO Okebukola said, today’s workshop is a deliberate investment in the intellectual and operational readiness of the Legal Officers which serves as a guidance of the guardian meetings, discipline and legitimacy in the conduct of the Military operations.

He therefore thanked the Chief of Army Staff for approving the workshop and his support to the Legal Services Army as the Directorate will not take this kind gesture for granted.

The Director said the rule of law is too critical to mission success of any kinetic or non-kinetic operations.

The theme of this workshop is aligned with the Command’s philosophy of COAS which says to advance the transformed Nigerian Army into a more professional adoptable and combat ready and resilient force capable of decisively discharging its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi agencies environment.

He reiterated that Legal Officers are central to the realization of the operational efficiency through professionalism and in full doctrine and highest ethical standards,

To achieve this, he continued, Legal Officers must abide by the legal rules and rules of engagements.