Retired Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, former Chief of Army Staff, has emphasised the urgent need for sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s military recruitment, training, and evaluation systems to bolster professionalism and operational effectiveness.
He delivered this charge during a keynote lecture at the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2025, hosted by the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna.
Yahaya stressed that maintaining rigorous standards throughout a soldier’s career cycle—from initial recruitment to active service—is critical for national security.
“The selection process into the NDA and Depot Nigerian Army must be stringent and merit-based. We cannot afford weakness or mediocrity; there must be zero tolerance for subpar elements at any stage of military service,” he asserted.
Highlighting the changing nature of global security threats, the retired general called for a paradigm shift in military training curricula.
He recommended incorporating contemporary warfare modules, including counter-terrorism strategies, asymmetric combat tactics, cyber warfare preparedness, and ideological extremism countermeasures. Also, he proposed integrating specialised courses on emotional intelligence, military psychology, and social media awareness to equip personnel with 21st-century combat skills.
“Training programs must evolve beyond conventional warfare doctrines to address modern security realities. The ‘soldier-first’ philosophy must be ingrained in both trainers and trainees through dynamic, threat-responsive education,” Yahaya noted.
He further advocated for enhanced simulation-based exercises and practical battlefield scenarios to bridge the gap between theory and real-world operations.
The former Army chief urged military institutions nationwide to upgrade their training infrastructure, emphasising that modern facilities are indispensable for producing a force capable of addressing current and emerging security challenges.
Yahaya’s recommendations come amid Nigeria’s ongoing battles against insurgency, banditry, and other asymmetric threats, underscoring the need for a more robust and adaptive armed forces structure. His reformative proposals align with global military best practices, emphasising continuous improvement to maintain combat readiness in an increasingly complex security landscape.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
