In a symbolic gesture blending seasonal goodwill with strategic command, Nigeria’s top military leaders, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Oluremi Oluyede and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Waide Shaibu, marked Christmas Day 2025 with troops stationed in Jos, Plateau State. The event, held with personnel of the Joint Task Force-Operation Enduring Peace (JTF-OPEP), served as more than a festive visit; it was a critical touchpoint for assessing morale, reinforcing strategy, and delivering a message of national resolve. Represented by Maj.-Gen. Umar Abubakar, Commander of the Armour Corps, the leadership’s presence highlighted the operational significance of the region, which has been a focal point in the nation’s security architecture.
Addressing the troops, the CDS framed their mission within the context of the season’s themes. “Christmas embodies love, sacrifice, hope, and renewal,” he stated, drawing a direct parallel to the soldiers’ duty. This rhetorical move was strategic, elevating routine security tasks to a national sacrifice. His commendation of the troops’ “commitment and resilience” was specifically tied to their efforts in securing Plateau and parts of Kaduna and Bauchi states—a region historically plagued by complex, inter-communal conflicts and criminality. His warning that “criminal elements often seek to exploit festive periods” was not generic; it was a tactical alert based on intelligence patterns where holidays see reduced civilian vigilance and increased movement, creating opportunities for attacks.
The CDS’s call for “stronger collaboration with other security agencies and positive engagement with local communities” points to a foundational, yet often challenging, pillar of modern counter-insurgency and peacekeeping doctrine. Winning the “people’s trust,” as he termed it, is essential for gathering actionable intelligence and isolating hostile elements from the population. This community-centric approach, when contrasted with purely kinetic operations, has proven vital in similar conflicts globally, suggesting a nuanced understanding of the battlefield in Central Nigeria.
On the critical issue of welfare, the CDS’s promise to “continually prioritise the welfare of personnel and their families” addresses a perennial pressure point in military effectiveness. Morale is intrinsically linked to soldiers’ confidence that their loved ones are safe and supported. His assurance regarding “improving living and working conditions” implicitly acknowledges challenges such as base infrastructure, equipment provisioning, and family housing—factors that directly impact retention and operational focus.
Echoing this sentiment, the COAS, Lt.-Gen. Waide Shaibu, thanked the troops for their “selfless sacrifices” and reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to “professionalism, combat readiness, and personnel welfare.” This triad forms the core of his publicly stated command philosophy. The emphasis on “professionalism” and “combat readiness” signals a continuous drive for training and adaptation against evolving asymmetric threats, while linking “welfare” directly to this philosophy institutionalizes it as a command responsibility, not just a seasonal concern.
The choice of Jos and the JTF-OPEP as the venue for this Christmas engagement is profoundly significant. Operation Enduring Peace itself represents a multi-service (joint) and likely multi-agency effort, reflecting the integrated approach the CDS advocated. Celebrating with these troops sends a clear message of strategic priority to the region and serves as a visible command endorsement for the task force’s mandate. Ultimately, this event transcended a simple holiday visit. It was a carefully orchestrated leadership communication exercise, designed to boost morale, reiterate strategic objectives, and publicly reinforce the chain of command’s focus on both the human and operational dimensions of securing Nigeria’s troubled heartland.
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