During Friday’s Juma’at prayers, which were part of events commemorating Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2026, Shaibu made the call as a gesture of goodwill to the Nigerian army family.
He defined the occasion as a chance to give thanks to God, consider the army’s path, honour its accomplishments, pay tribute to fallen heroes, and reaffirm dedication to the country’s defence.
He claims that for 163 years, the Nigerian army has stood for sacrifice, resiliency, patriotism, and unshakeable dedication to national service.

Additionally, he stated that the army has continued to adjust to new security threats while staying committed to its constitutional duty of protecting the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The 2026 NADCEL topic, “Protecting the Nation and Serving the People: A Way Forward for the Nigerian Army,” highlighted the army’s dedication to the security, prosperity, and confidence of Nigerians, according to the COAS.

“Terrorism, insurgency, banditry, abduction, oil theft, and other criminal acts endangering our country’s peace and stability are still being aggressively fought by our troops.  “The Nigerian army has continued to record notable achievements across the various theatres of operation, despite the complexity of these security challenges,” he stated.

He praised the loyalty, discipline, bravery, and professionalism of the officers and troops, stating that their efforts had resulted in the neutralisation of criminal groups, the destruction of terrorist enclaves, the release of hostages, and the restoration of calm in a number of areas.  He reaffirmed that his command philosophy was still centred on making the Nigerian army a more professional, flexible, combat-ready, and resilient force that could function well in a cooperative, multi-agency setting.

According to Shaibu, the “Soldier-First” ethos is still at the core of the idea, with a stronger focus on employee welfare through better housing, healthcare, training opportunities, and educational support.  He continued by saying that the army’s operational capability to combat current security challenges would be further strengthened by the federal government’s approval of expanded recruitment.

In addition to honouring the contributions of injured soldiers and veterans, he paid respect to deceased heroes who gave their lives in defence of the nation.  He commended the families of active duty members for their support, highlighting their crucial role in the army’s success. Shaibu expressed gratitude towards President Bola Tinubu for his dedication to improving the armed forces’ welfare. He urged soldiers to uphold principles like loyalty and professionalism, while encouraging Nigerians to pray for their nation and its leaders. He concluded with a blessing for Nigeria and its military.