Abuja, Nigeria – In a significant development, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, announced that the Nigerian Army has acquired advanced electronic warfare capabilities and is embracing the convergence of electronic and cyber warfare. Lt.-Gen. Lagbaja made this announcement on Monday during the inauguration of the Maiden Cyber Security Workshop at the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare School in Abuja.
The workshop, operating under the theme “Role of Information Technology in National Security against Upcoming Threats and Cyber-Attacks,” represents a pivotal step in the Nigerian Army’s pursuit of modernizing its capabilities in electronic and cyber warfare. The opening of the workshop was marked by Lt.-Gen. Lagbaja’s remarks, as he elaborated on the military’s progress in this field.
Represented by Maj.-Gen. Sanusi Dahiru, Deputy Director-General of the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Lt.-Gen. Lagbaja explained that past limitations, chiefly financial constraints and limited technical expertise within the army, had previously hindered the acquisition of electronic warfare capabilities.
“ICT networks are dependent upon the myriad properties of the Electro Magnetic Spectrum for their essential connectivity in cyberspace,” said Lt.-Gen. Lagbaja. “In this environment, various actors operate, creating exponential effects compared to other domains.” He urged the school to expand its collaboration and emphasized the need to integrate cyber warfare into contemporary military operations.
Lt.-Gen. Lagbaja noted that cyber threats could originate from various sources, including foreign organizations, hacktivists, governments, criminal groups, and individuals. These threats increasingly target critical infrastructure such as power grids, financial systems, healthcare organizations, and government networks. Cyberspace has become a vital arena for modern society’s activities, and it is expected to be contested in future conflicts.
In response to these challenges, the Nigerian Army has established the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command (NACWC) and the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare School (NACWS) to address the threats posed by the cyber domain. Lt.-Gen. Lagbaja commended the school for its dedication to finding solutions to contemporary and future security challenges.
The Chief of Army Staff expressed his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his support and reaffirmed the army’s commitment to remaining apolitical, professional, and ever-ready to accomplish its missions in defense of Nigeria.
Brig.-Gen. Abdullahi Ahmad, Commandant of NACWS, explained that the school was established to build the capacity of army personnel in dealing with cyber threats and the exploitation of the cyber domain by terrorist groups and criminal elements. The ongoing workshop aims to provide comprehensive knowledge of modern trends in cybersecurity and cyber warfare.
The workshop will also serve as a forum for scholars, stakeholders, and army experts to share their perspectives on selected topics, aligning with the school’s mission and the COAS command philosophy to transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped, and highly motivated force within a joint environment.
The weeklong event will feature lectures on various topics, including “Integrating Cybersecurity into Military Doctrine and Tactics,” presented from both military and academic perspectives.
This development signifies a significant leap for the Nigerian Army in its efforts to strengthen its electronic and cyber warfare capabilities to protect national security in the face of evolving cyber threats.