The Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, urged the Nigerian Army to boost training, professionalism and coordination in protocol and liaison duties during the opening of the Fourth Capacity Building Workshop on Protocol and Liaison Duties. The workshop, organised by the Army Headquarters Department of Special Services and Programmes, took place on Tuesday in Abuja. Shaibu addressed the gathering through his representative, the Chief of Administration (Army), Maj‑Gen. Isa Abdullahi. He argued that effective protocol management is now critical for operations that involve sister services, security agencies and international partners, noting the country's expanding military diplomacy. "The chosen theme is apt as it emphasises the pivotal role of protocol and liaison duties in today's operating environment," Shaibu said, adding that such skill sets "constantly shape how we are perceived as an Army." He stressed that continuous capacity development is needed for seamless coordination in joint and multi‑agency settings and highlighted the Army's participation in bilateral and multinational engagements. "Increased military‑to‑military bilateral contacts and engagements with friendly allies all over the world call for better understanding of protocol functions," he remarked. Shaibu praised the Department of Special Services and Programmes for the timely and strategic workshop and thanked the invited diplomats and resource persons. He reaffirmed the Army's commitment to professionalism and synergy with sister services, linking the initiative to his command philosophy of creating a more adaptable, combat‑ready and resilient force. Earlier, Maj‑Gen. Aminu Garba, Chief of Special Services and Programmes, explained that the workshop aims to improve efficiency in protocol and liaison management across the Armed Forces and security agencies, citing the growing complexity of joint operations and international engagements. Garba said the Department remains dedicated to raising standards in ceremonial, diplomatic and inter‑agency coordination and commended the COAS for supporting the programme, which he expects will strengthen service delivery and inter‑agency cooperation. (NAN) (www.nanmews.ng) Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi
Waidi Shaibu's call for a professionalised protocol corps reveals a strategic pivot: the Nigerian Army is treating diplomatic competence as a battlefield asset.
The emphasis comes as Nigeria deepens military‑to‑military contacts and participates in more bilateral and multinational missions, a reality Shaibu highlighted by noting "increased military‑to‑military bilateral contacts…call for better understanding of protocol functions." The Fourth Capacity Building Workshop, convened by the Department of Special Services and Programmes, reflects an institutional response to the "growing complexity of joint operations and international engagements" identified by Maj‑Gen. Aminu Garba.
For ordinary Nigerians, smoother inter‑agency coordination could translate into faster, more coherent security responses, especially in regions where multiple forces operate simultaneously. Civilians caught in the cross‑fire of fragmented operations may benefit from a unified command structure that reduces duplication and miscommunication.
This focus on protocol mirrors a broader trend of modernising the armed forces, where soft‑power skills are increasingly valued alongside combat readiness, signalling a shift toward a more diplomatically engaged military posture.
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