President Bola Tinubu has endorsed a book examining the military leadership philosophy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, describing it as a foundation for a more professional, adaptable and combat-ready Nigerian Army.
The book, The Shaibu Doctrine: Mission Command and the Remaking of Nigeria’s Army at War, was co-authored by Dr Muhammed Abubakar and Associate Professor Sunday Adejoh of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
In the foreword, Tinubu said the doctrine reflected the Armed Forces’ responsibility to secure Nigeria and create an environment where democracy and development could thrive. He highlighted professionalism, adaptability, combat readiness and resilience as key principles guiding Shaibu’s leadership approach.
Explaining the book’s focus, Abubakar said it examined Shaibu’s approach to Mission Command, troop welfare and decentralised decision-making as tools for improving military effectiveness.
He said the doctrine was built around five pillars represented by the acronym PROSE: Professional Excellence, Robust Administration, Operational Readiness, Strategic Cooperation and Exemplary Leadership.
Abubakar explained that Mission Command allows senior officers to set operational objectives while empowering subordinate commanders to make decisions based on battlefield conditions. He said the approach could reduce delays and improve accountability, provided troops had adequate equipment, training, logistics and welfare support.
The book also examines challenges facing Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations, including intelligence gaps and inadequate sustained air support. Abubakar advocated stronger intelligence gathering, improved cooperation between the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air Force, and increased use of long-endurance drones.
He stressed that military operations alone could not resolve insecurity, calling for a broader approach involving government institutions, security agencies and local communities.
Abubakar said the publication was not a biography of Shaibu but an analysis of his leadership philosophy and the institutional changes needed to address insurgency, terrorism and banditry.
The book is scheduled for presentation on November 24, 2026, at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja.
