Brain and bravery: Waidi Shuaibu leads Nigeria’s Army forward
Waidi Shuaibu (Major General) the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff has spent his entire adult life navigating the sharp edges of Nigeria’s security landscape. Calm in the face of risk and rigorous in pursuit of results, he now assumes the highest responsibility in the Nigerian Army at a time the nation demands renewed strength, trust, and modern military thinking.
Rooted in service and learning
Born on December 18 1971 in Olamaboro, Kogi State, Shuaibu entered the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1989 and was commissioned into the Armour Corps in 1994.
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He holds a degree in mechanical engineering and postgraduate qualifications in public administration, strategic studies, and security studies earned across institutions in Nigeria, Ghana, and the United States. He has trained in leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School and is currently pursuing a PhD in strategic studies at the University of Ibadan.
Shaped by the toughest battles
Shuaibu’s record in the field spans more than three decades. He has served in almost every major counterterrorism and peace support operation launched by Nigeria and the African Union. His rise through the command structure has been steady and earned, from platoon commander in the Armour Corps to brigade commander, general officer commanding 7 Division, and eventually theatre commander of Operation Hadin Kai in the North East.
That posting in 2023 and 2024 placed him at the heart of the war against Boko Haram and ISWAP. His approach relied on readiness and adaptation. He restored damaged armoured vehicles to service, giving troops renewed strength in mobility and firepower. He tightened coordination with the Air Force, which executed hundreds of sorties providing precision intelligence and strikes in support of ground advances.
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Security reports during his tenure credited his theatre command with major breakthroughs. Deep clearance operations into Sambisa Forest and the Tumbuktu Triangle disrupted long standing insurgent strongholds. More than 567 terrorists were neutralised in a fifteen month period, while the mass surrender of fighters and their families crossed 121,000, changing the tone of the conflict and opening the door to stabilisation.
Building trust where war has wounded
Shuaibu’s philosophy recognises that insurgency is not defeated by force alone. In early 2024 he launched the Local Community Policing and Peace Enforcement model, designed to bring military operations closer to local realities and strengthen trust with residents. Humanitarian outreach and support for cultural events helped reconnect troops and communities scarred by years of violence.
He improved accommodation, logistics, and morale facilities across the theatre. The Joint Task Force Headquarters in Maiduguri was renovated, and new quarters for soldiers and families were constructed.
These efforts earned continental recognition when his theatre command received the Security Watch Africa Award in 2024 as the most outstanding defence command in Africa.
A mandate for modernisation
Now as Chief of Army Staff, Shuaibu carries expectations that extend across Nigeria. The challenges are diverse, from insurgency and banditry to emerging threats that demand technology and intelligence driven responses.
He is viewed within military circles as disciplined, reflective, and direct. He loves reading and is known as a devoted family man.
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Nigeria’s security environment remains complex, although the elevation of a commander with deep combat experience and strong academic insight suggests a clear direction. The mission before him is to strengthen an Army that must protect a vast nation while earning its trust.
