COAS Salutes Troops’ Valour at Christmas, Reaffirms Commitment to Niger Delta Security

EFFURUN, DELTA STATE – The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has lauded the “unwavering commitment, discipline, and sacrifice” of Nigerian Army personnel, describing them as the bedrock of the nation’s security architecture.

​The Army Chief gave this commendation on Saturday during a festive Christmas luncheon organized for the troops of the 63 Brigade, held at the 3 Battalion Barracks in Effurun, Delta State. The event, held in the heart of the Niger Delta, was part of the COAS’s strategic working tour to evaluate military formations and bolster the morale of personnel deployed to internal security operations in the oil-rich region.

​A Season for Reflection and Resilience

​Represented by the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Major General Musa Auwal, Lt. Gen. Shaibu emphasized that the Yuletide period serves as more than just a celebration; it is a critical window for the Nigerian Army to introspect.

​”The Yuletide season has given the Nigerian Army the opportunity to reassess itself regarding its operational challenges and successes,” the COAS stated. He noted that while the rest of the country celebrates with loved ones, the troops remain the “wall that never breaks,” standing firm against various forms of insecurity across the federation.

​The COAS further highlighted that the core values of Christmas—love, sacrifice, compassion, and unity—are intrinsically linked to the Nigerian Army’s ethos. He attributed the successes recorded in various theatres of operation to a combination of “divine guidance and the sheer resilience” of the officers and men.

​Strengthening Civil-Military Ties

​In his welcome address, the Commander of the 63 Brigade, Brigadier-General Moronfolu Shonibare, noted that the luncheon was a tradition aimed at reflecting on a successful operational year while fostering camaraderie.

​He expressed optimism that the visit and the COAS’s message would serve as a bridge, further “cementing the relationship between the Nigerian Army and the people of the Niger Delta.”

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​The event featured the symbolic serving of meals to soldiers by senior officers, a gesture designed to reinforce leadership’s solidarity with the rank and file. Major General Auwal also utilized the platform to call for continued peace and unity, urging the troops to remain vigilant against criminal elements who might seek to exploit the festive period.

​This visit follows similar morale-boosting engagements by the military high command across the country, including recent luncheons with frontline troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA in the North West, as the Army prepares to transition into its 2026 operational cycle with a renewed focus on “Soldiers First” welfare initiatives.