Army Expansion Will Boost Security, Economic Growth — COAS
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has said the ongoing expansion of the Nigerian Army will strengthen the country’s security architecture and create a safer environment for entrepreneurship, investment and economic growth.
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 includes arts, culture, music, film and digital content, as an increasingly important contributor to employment, investment, cultural diplomacy and national development.
He noted that Nigeria’s creative industry continues to project the country internationally while providing opportunities for wealth creation beyond the traditional sectors of the economy.
According to him, creativity, entrepreneurship and investment can only thrive in a stable and secure environment, stressing that insecurity disrupts economic activities, restricts movement, discourages investors and undermines productivity.
Shaibu explained that the expansion of the Nigerian Army, including the establishment of additional formations and units, was aimed at extending the force’s operational reach, increasing its presence in vulnerable areas and improving its ability to respond swiftly to emerging security threats.
He said the expanded structure would also enhance the protection of communities, critical national infrastructure and economic activities, while limiting the freedom of terrorists and other criminal elements to operate.
The COAS maintained that the Army’s contribution to national development extends beyond direct military operations, as sustained security operations help create the stability needed for businesses, entrepreneurs, investors 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 providing the secure environment required to promote investment, entrepreneurship, the creative economy and sustainable national development.
