The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has called on officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army to uphold the values of unity, discipline and professionalism as they celebrate Christmas 2025 and prepare for the New Year 2026.
In a goodwill message to officers, soldiers, civilian staff and their families, the Army Chief expressed gratitude to God for His continued grace upon the nation and commended troops for their resilience and professionalism across all theatres of operation.
Lieutenant General Shaibu described Christmas as a season of reflection, renewal and thanksgiving, noting that the virtues of love, sacrifice, compassion, peace and unity associated with the celebration align strongly with the ethos and values of the Nigerian Army.
He paid special tribute to personnel deployed in operational areas who are unable to celebrate the festive season with their families, saluting their courage, discipline and sacrifices in safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity and ensuring national security.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening professionalism and combat readiness in line with his command philosophy, which seeks to transform the Nigerian Army into a more adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force capable of effectively discharging its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency environment. He said priority would continue to be given to sound administration, personnel welfare, recognition of excellence, and an efficient reward and sanction system.
Lieutenant General Shaibu also acknowledged the vital role of military families, describing their support and sacrifices as the unseen strength behind the success of troops. He assured them of the Army’s commitment to improving welfare programmes for personnel and their dependants.
The Army Chief further expressed appreciation to sister services, security and intelligence agencies, ministries, state governors, traditional rulers, host communities and patriotic Nigerians for their cooperation and support, which he said remain critical to the success of the Army’s constitutional mandate.
Looking ahead to 2026, he urged personnel to embrace the New Year with renewed optimism and determination, stressing that efforts would be intensified to address emerging security threats, consolidate operational gains, improve counterinsurgency strategies, strengthen intelligence architecture and enhance morale and welfare.
He also honoured fallen heroes of the Nigerian Army, pledging continued support for their families and a commitment to ensuring that their sacrifices are never forgotten.
Lieutenant General Shaibu thanked President and Commander-in-Chief for his strategic leadership, improved funding for operations, enhanced training infrastructure, acquisition of modern equipment and strengthened welfare initiatives for personnel.
He concluded by wishing all officers, soldiers, civilian staff and their families a Merry Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year 2026.
