The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has said that the Nigerian Army is expanding the use of indigenous languages to strengthen intelligence gathering and improve operational efficiency across all theatres of operation nationwide.
Shaibu made the remark on Friday in Abuja at the graduation ceremony of the 20th Indigenous Languages Course, organised by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, NARC, marking the third programme in the 2025 training cycle.
Represented by the Chief of Administration, Army, Maj.-Gen. Isa Abdullahi, he acknowledged the importance of language skills in ensuring effective operational engagement and national security.
He noted that evolving security challenges across the country have made proficiency in local languages an indispensable tool for troops, who rely heavily on human intelligence to interact meaningfully with host communities during operations.
According to him, effective communication with local populations enhances the extraction of credible information, builds trust with civilians, and strengthens the Army’s ability to respond promptly and decisively to emerging threats and security challenges.
“Our operations are largely intelligence-driven, and human intelligence depends on effective interpersonal contact,” Shaibu said.
He emphasised the importance of understanding local customs, culture and dialects in improving operational planning and tactical decision-making.
“Proficiency in local dialects significantly enhances our capacity to communicate and respond swiftly to threats,” he added, urging the graduates to regard language skills as a critical tool for security, counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.
Shaibu also encouraged the graduating personnel to continue sharpening their language abilities, describing them as strategic assets, while charging them to uphold professionalism, discipline and accountability in an increasingly complex and evolving threat environment.