COAS Unveils PROSE Doctrine to Drive Professionalism, Operational Readiness

T The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has unveiled a new Command Philosophy designed to reposition the Nigerian Army as a highly professional, agile, combat-effective and resilient force.

The COAS articulated the vision on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, while delivering a lecture to participants of Senior Course 48 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.

Speaking during the lecture, Lieutenant General Shaibu emphasized that effective leadership in today’s dynamic security environment must be rooted in character, courage and genuine concern for personnel.

“The Nigerian Army operates within an increasingly volatile, complex and multi-dimensional threat environment, with ongoing commitments across all geopolitical zones in counterinsurgency, counterterrorism and other internal security operations,” he said.

He stressed that these realities demand not only tactical proficiency but also enduring institutional strength.

The Army Chief explained that the new Command Philosophy is aimed at accelerating the transformation of the Nigerian Army into a force fully capable of decisively fulfilling its constitutional mandate within joint and multi-agency frameworks.

Highlighting innovation as the engine of progress, he reaffirmed resilience as the defining spirit of the Nigerian soldier, noting that mission accomplishment must remain the Army’s unyielding guiding principle.

According to him, the philosophy is built around five mutually reinforcing pillars captured in the acronym PROSE — Professional Excellence, Robust Administration, Operational Readiness, Strategic Cooperation and Exemplary Leadership.

He explained that the pillars are anchored on a “Soldier-First Culture” that prioritizes personnel welfare, morale, training, dignity and empowerment as the foundation of combat effectiveness and institutional credibility.

Lieutenant General Shaibu further stated that operational success goes beyond battlefield victories to include public trust, strengthened civil-military relations and strict adherence to the rule of law.

He charged participants of the course, whom he described as future operational and strategic leaders of the Nigerian Army, to internalize the philosophy and translate it into measurable impact across formations and units.

The introduction of the PROSE-driven Command Philosophy, according to the Army hierarchy, signals a strategic shift aimed at balancing sustained internal security operations with long-term force development, modernization and institutional reform in response to Nigeria’s evolving security landscape.