Abuja: The Nigerian Army is spearheading a radical overhaul to counter complex, asymmetric, and cyber-based security threats effectively. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, stated this at the 2026 Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare School Seminar held on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Shaibu, represented by the Deputy Chief of Special Services and Programmes, Maj.-Gen. Jeremiah Manjang, described the seminar’s theme as timely and relevant to contemporary national security realities. He stated that the cyberspace has evolved into a strategic domain where state and non-state actors operate with unprecedented speed, creating security threats that transcend geographical boundaries and conventional military operations.
Shaibu highlighted that hostile actors no longer need physical presence to disrupt critical infrastructure, compromise sensitive information, manipulate public opinion, or undermine national security through anonymous cyber attacks. He noted that terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, separatist agitations, organised crime, misinformation, and disinformation are increasingly enabled, coordinated, and amplified through digital platforms and cyber networks across Nigeria.
The COAS emphasized that terrorist and criminal groups exploit cyberspace for recruitment, propaganda, fundraising, intelligence gathering, attack coordination, and concealment of illicit financial transactions, necessitating proactive national responses. He underscored the need to strengthen cyber intelligence capabilities through artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced data analytics to improve early warning, threat detection, and predictive security analysis nationwide.
Shaibu also called for stronger inter-agency collaboration, stating that effective cybersecurity requires government institutions, military, law enforcement agencies, academia, and private sector stakeholders to develop robust indigenous response frameworks. He emphasized continuous investment in indigenous cyber capabilities, research, technological innovation, and human capacity development to safeguard Nigeria’s digital sovereignty against emerging cyber threats and future security challenges.
He further mentioned that integrating cyber capabilities with conventional military operations will enhance surveillance, intelligence fusion, geospatial analysis, command-and-control systems, situational awareness, and overall mission effectiveness across operational theatres. He affirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening cyber infrastructure, specialized training, technological innovation, and strategic partnerships as part of its transformation agenda for the digital age.
Earlier, the Commandant of the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare School, Brig.-Gen. Jacob Bawa, stated that the seminar aimed to advance cybersecurity awareness, strengthen cyber resilience, and promote national security through collaboration. Bawa noted that increasing dependence on digital technologies has exposed critical infrastructure, including telecommunications, power, financial systems, and government databases, to cybercriminals, terrorists, and hostile state actors worldwide.
He added that the school was established as a center of excellence for cyber warfare training, education, and research, providing a platform for professional engagement among cybersecurity practitioners and policymakers. Participants will examine cyber resilience, threat intelligence, incident response, cyber warfare, and emerging technologies to generate practical recommendations for strengthening Nigeria’s cybersecurity ecosystem.
A Global Cybersecurity Resource, Mr. Abdulhakeem Ajijola, warned that national security now depends on protecting digital systems, stressing that artificial intelligence increasingly shapes military decisions, command structures, and the protection of critical infrastructure. Ajijola stressed the importance of building sovereign cyber capabilities and cautioned against dependence on foreign-controlled software, platforms, and artificial intelligence, which could undermine national resilience, operational continuity, and independent decision-making during crises.
He urged military commanders to prioritize AI governance, indigenous innovation, and resilient digital infrastructure, emphasizing that technology should strengthen national sovereignty while accountability for operational decisions must always remain with human commanders.