•Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has directed Nigerian Army legal practitioners to strengthen their capacity to provide timely and operationally relevant legal advice to commanders as the service expands its formations and operational footprint across the country.
Shaibu said the expansion of the Nigerian Army must be matched by stronger institutional mechanisms to ensure compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL), human rights standards and the military justice system.
The COAS gave the charge yesterday in Abuja while declaring open a specialised training workshop for officers of the Directorate of Legal Services (Army), reports The Nation.
Represented by the Chief of Administration (Army), Maj.-Gen. Isa Abdullahi, Shaibu said the increasingly complex and fluid nature of contemporary security operations required commanders at all levels to have access to sound, timely and practical legal advice.
He said the Army’s expansion was not merely about increasing formations, units and personnel, but also about strengthening the professional, administrative and institutional frameworks needed to sustain an effective, disciplined and accountable force.
According to him, as the Army operationalises new formations and units and extends its presence to emerging security flashpoints, the responsibilities of commanders and their legal advisers have become broader and more complex.
He said: “As the Nigerian Army expands its force structure, operationalises new formations and units, and extends its presence to emerging security flashpoints across the country, the responsibilities of commanders and their legal advisers have equally become broader and more complex.”
Shaibu said the workshop, themed: “The Role of Legal Officers in Advising Commanders on Compliance with International Humanitarian Law and Military Justice System,” was designed to improve the ability of legal officers to advise commanders on civilian harm mitigation, protection of medical personnel and facilities, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence and autonomous weapon systems.
He stressed that adherence to the principles of military necessity, humanity, distinction, proportionality and precaution remained essential to achieving military objectives while protecting civilians and preserving public confidence in military operations.
The COAS also charged legal officers to be adequately prepared to support commanders at the strategic, operational and tactical levels as newly established formations and units become fully operational.
He said effective legal support would enable commanders to translate constitutional provisions, applicable international law, statutory military frameworks and Rules of Engagement into lawful and decisive actions in complex operational environments.
According to him, military lawyers have the dual responsibility of safeguarding discipline within the force and ensuring that the application of military power remains firmly anchored on the rule of law.
“Strengthening the legal capacity of the Army therefore constitutes an important component of the broader transformation and expansion of the Nigerian Army into a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force,” he said.
The Acting Director of Legal Services (Army), Col. Samson Okebukola, said the training would enhance the ability of legal officers to understand operational realities and provide appropriate legal guidance to commanders on the application of IHL and during military support to civil authorities.
Okebukola said the Army’s commitment to lawful operations was reflected in its adherence to IHL principles in Operation Hadin Kai and the protection of fundamental rights guaranteed under Chapter Four of the 1999 Constitution during internal security operations, including Operation Fansan Yamma.
Describing military legal officers as “soldier-jurists,” he said they carried the rule of law into the operational environment by integrating legal considerations into operational planning, execution, discipline and accountability.
He stressed that fair trial, procedural justice and disciplined application of force remained essential to a credible military justice system and operational legitimacy.
He said the training would strengthen the professional competence of legal officers, particularly as the Army expands its formations, units and operational footprint, “thereby enhancing commanders’ decision-making, protecting civilians and military personnel, and reinforcing accountability.”
