President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu have praised the Nigerian Army, describing soldiers—both serving and retired—as the bedrock of Nigeria’s peace and stability.

The commendations came during the 5-Day Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference 2025, themed “Examining the Current Landscape of Terrorism through the Lenses of Diplomatic and Military Actions: Strategy for Long-term Prevention and Stabilisation”, held at Abalti Barracks, Ojuelegba, Lagos.

President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, acknowledged the sacrifices of military personnel across the nation:

“The debt Nigeria owes its soldiers cannot be exhausted in a day nor captured in words alone. You have chosen duty over comfort and service over ease, standing in harm’s way so that our people may sleep in peace.”

He emphasized the conference’s role as a platform for introspection, institutional renewal, and continuous improvement in Army planning, administration, and operations. The President also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to modernizing the Armed Forces through enhanced training, modern equipment, and improved operational capacity.

Highlighting recent achievements, Tinubu noted the induction of new aviation assets, procurement of armoured and mine-resistant vehicles, and refurbishment of over 100 armoured fighting vehicles returning to active service, describing the reports from various operations as a testament to the Army’s courage, resilience, and professionalism.

Gen. Christopher Musa described the conference as a critical platform for strengthening professionalism and aligning Army operations with national security priorities, stressing the need to address terrorism, banditry, criminality, and other asymmetric threats with strategic clarity and adaptive leadership.

“The capacity of terrorist groups and criminal elements has been significantly degraded across multiple theatres. Jointness and inter-service cooperation are now fundamental to national defence,” Musa added.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu underscored security as a prerequisite for development, commending the Nigerian Army’s role in safeguarding unity and democratic governance. He pledged Lagos State’s continued support for the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army to enhance peace and stability in the region.

Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to building a professional, future-ready force, emphasizing troop welfare, morale, and people-centred leadership as top priorities, while highlighting ongoing successes in counter-terrorism and internal security operations.

“Our soldiers are the core and enduring strength of the Nigerian Army. Their welfare and that of their families remain a top priority. The Army remains loyal to the Commander-in-Chief and the Constitution,” he stated.