Nigeria’s security challenges cannot be resolved by the Armed Forces acting in isolation, the Chief of Defence Staff has warned, stressing that sustainable peace now depends on a whole of society commitment built on trust, cooperation and shared responsibility.
Zig Diaries Defence
Date: Wednesday, 14 January 2026
Time: 22:20 WAT
Location: 📍 Abuja, Nigeria
Speaking at the Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day 2026 Regimental Dinner Night in Abuja, the Chief of Defence Staff said military success must go beyond battlefield victories to include restored confidence between the Armed Forces and the civil population.
According to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, Nigerian troops have continued to prevail against complex security threats while deliberately rebuilding trust with communities, narrowing the civil military gap that once fuelled suspicion and fear.
“Our troops have continued to prevail and win the hearts of our compatriots, replacing any trust deficit with confidence and pride,” he said.
General Oluyede described this evolving relationship as critical to national security, noting that no military force can succeed without the support of the people it is sworn to protect.
He said the Armed Forces’ current strategic philosophy is anchored on a whole of society approach, which requires deeper collaboration with local communities and closer coordination with sister security agencies in the fight against terrorism and criminality.
“The military cannot succeed alone in preserving our national heritage. The way forward lies in strong partnerships with communities and sustained inter-agency cooperation,” the Defence Chief stated.
Beyond operations, General Oluyede acknowledged the quiet sacrifices of military families, describing them as a central pillar of operational effectiveness whose support enables personnel to serve with discipline and patriotic resolve under demanding conditions.
The Defence Chief also paid tribute to fallen heroes, describing their sacrifices as the foundation upon which Nigeria’s freedom and national resilience continue to stand.
“As we remember those who paid the supreme price, we are reminded that the foundation of our freedom was laid by their sacrifices and sustained by comrades who continue to hold the line across the country,” he said.
General Oluyede expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support to the Armed Forces, citing improved welfare, modernisation and strategic guidance as factors strengthening the military’s capacity to fulfil its constitutional responsibilities.
He also thanked the Minister of Defence, retired General Christopher Gwabin Musa, for his leadership and support to the Armed Forces, as well as guests and senior officers present at the event.
The Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day Regimental Dinner Night is one of the military’s most symbolic traditions, combining remembrance with reflection on the evolving demands of national security.
This year’s message, however, carried a clear signal that Nigeria’s security future will be shaped not only by military strength, but by the depth of trust, unity and collective resolve between the Armed Forces and the society they defend.
🏷️ Tags: Nigeria security, Armed Forces of Nigeria, CDS Oluyede, civil military relations, AFCRD 2026, counterterrorism, national defence
#NigeriaSecurity #ArmedForcesOfNigeria #AFCRD2026 #ZigDiariesDefence #CivilMilitaryRelations
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