The Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has said the ongoing expansion of the Nigerian Army will strengthen its operational reach and enhance its capacity to provide the secure environment necessary for entrepreneurship, the creative economy and other sectors of the national economy to thrive.
According to Acting Director, Army Public Relations Col. Appolonia Anele, Shaibu stated this on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, while delivering a lecture titled, “Safeguarding the Orange Economy and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development: The Role of the Nigerian Army,” to participants of Senior Executive Course 48, 2026, at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State.
The Army chief described the Orange Economy, which encompasses arts, culture, music, film and digital content, as an increasingly significant driver of employment, investment, cultural diplomacy and national development.
He noted that Nigeria’s creative talents continue to project the country internationally while opening new avenues for wealth creation beyond traditional economic sectors.
According to him, creativity, entrepreneurship and investment require a stable and secure environment to flourish, warning that insecurity disrupts economic activities, restricts mobility, discourages investment and undermines productivity.
Shaibu therefore stressed the strong link between national security and sustainable economic development, noting that effective security is essential to creating the conditions for businesses and entrepreneurs to operate successfully.
On the ongoing expansion of the Nigerian Army, the COAS explained that the establishment of additional formations and units was aimed at broadening the Army’s operational footprint, strengthening its presence in vulnerable areas and improving its ability to respond rapidly to emerging security threats.
He said the expanded force structure would enhance the protection of communities, critical national infrastructure and economic activities, while restricting the freedom of action of terrorists and other criminal elements.
The COAS further maintained that the Army’s contribution to national development extends beyond direct military operations, as sustained security operations help create the stability required for businesses, investors, entrepreneurs and creative professionals to operate and prosper.
He called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, government institutions, the private sector and stakeholders in the creative industry, emphasising that national security is a collective responsibility.
Shaibu reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening the security environment necessary to support investment, entrepreneurship, the creative economy and sustainable national development.
