Nigerian Army has acquired additional drones and other advanced force multipliers to strengthen surveillance operations, improve target acquisition, and enhance precision strike and casualty evacuation capabilities.

Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, chief of Army Staff (COAS), said that the new drones will boost surveillance, precision strikes.

Shaibu, who disclosed this in a statement shared via the Nigerian Army’s official X handle, noted that the conference provided a platform for critical assessment of ongoing operations and the development of forward-looking strategies to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.

He said deliberations at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre, Asokoro, focused on sharpening operational responses, strengthening training frameworks and adapting to the demands of modern security warfare.

According to him, the resolutions reached are aimed at building a more agile, combat-ready, technologically driven and mission-oriented force capable of responding effectively to emerging threats.

A key highlight of the reforms is the Army’s increasing investment in modern warfare technology, including the acquisition of additional tactical drones and the reconfiguration of Army aviation assets for combat roles.

Shaibu explained that these developments have significantly enhanced intelligence gathering, precision targeting, operational mobility and casualty evacuation across various theatres of operation.

He also highlighted ongoing improvements in recruitment, advanced training, professional military education and leadership development, stressing that discipline, competence and meritocracy remain central to building a stronger institution.

Reaffirming his “soldier-first” philosophy, the COAS said troop welfare remains a top priority, stressing that “troop welfare remains non-negotiable; well-motivated soldiers operating in conducive environments are critical to mission success.”

He urged senior officers to ensure that resolutions from the conference are fully implemented in field operations, stressing that the true value of the gathering lies in measurable impact on the battlefield.

Describing the ongoing reforms, Shaibu said: “We are not just reforming the Army; we are building a lethal, technology-driven fighting force where only discipline, merit, and mission success matter.”

The Army Chief expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support, as well as the Minister of Defence, Minister of State for Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs and intelligence agencies for their continued collaboration.

The conference ended with the presentation of commendation plaques to senior officers recognized for outstanding contributions to operational effectiveness.

The UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), David Smith MP, concluded a three-day visit to Abuja this week, marking Nigeria as the first focus country he has visited under the UK’s FoRB strategy.

During the visit, David Smith MP held a wide range of meetings with senior Nigerian government officials, religious leaders, civil society organisations, and local communities – reflecting the UK’s commitment to sustained, practical engagement and partnership on freedom of religion or belief in Nigeria.

Meetings included discussions with the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang.

The Special Envoy also met with the co-chairs of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, and HRH the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, President-General of the National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.

At the end of the visit, the UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith MP, said: “Over the past few days, I have been honoured to meet a wide range of people — from senior government figures and civil society to faith leaders and local communities. I came to listen, learn, and see both how freedom of religion or belief is experienced in everyday life, and how it connects to – and is a core part of addressing – Nigeria’s wider challenges around security and cohesion.

“Some of the most powerful moments of this visit were at community level. Visiting Father Emmanuel Unamba’s parish and meeting Christian and Muslim neighbours living side by side was a real reminder that peaceful coexistence is something people build every day through leadership, dialogue, and shared responsibility.

“What I take away from this visit is the importance of further progress being Nigerian led, rooted in strong institutions and inclusive dialogue, with FoRB at its heart. The UK will continue to support practical efforts in ensuring greater peace, security and prosperity for all.”

The visit also included a roundtable with partners of the UK’s Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) programme, a £38 million UK government-funded conflict and resilience programme operating primarily in Kaduna, Katsina, Benue and Plateau states.

During the visit, Special Envoy David Smith MP held meetings with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, the Nigerian National Human Rights Commission, and civil society organisations working at the intersection of insecurity and religious freedom. He also visited the National Mosque and the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja.

Speaking to the various stakeholders, Mr Smith called for greater tolerance across religion or belief in Nigeria and hoped that the cohesion he saw on a community level in the capital, could be achieved nation-wide with the same resolve. He hoped to continue these dialogues with interlocutors in the UK.

The visit builds on the momentum of President Tinubu’s State Visit to the United Kingdom in March 2026, which reinforced the UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership and included interfaith events attended by President Tinubu and His Majesty The King, underlining both countries’ shared commitment to fostering constructive interfaith dialogue.

In September 2025, Nigeria strengthened its climate goals, committing to reduce emissions by 32% by 2030 while promoting greener jobs, innovation, and a fair transition to a low-carbon economy. Before then, MTN Nigeria was working to expand its own climate efforts.

MTN Nigeria

In its 2024 Sustainability Report, the company disclosed an 11% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2021 levels. That progress has continued.

In its newly released 2025 Sustainability Report, the company’s operational emissions fell by 6.4%, driven by investments in cleaner and more efficient energy solutions.

The company’s climate efforts are anchored on Project Zero, MTN’s long-term strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040. In 2025, the techco invested NGN10.1 billion in the initiative and recorded savings of about NGN8.5 billion.

The programme built on work done in 2024, when MTN replaced 86 outdated cooling systems with more energy-efficient units across data centres, switch centres, and telecom sites.

In 2025, the company expanded its strategy further by replacing diesel-powered systems with gas-powered electricity and inverter solutions, while also increasing its solar-powered rural telephony sites from 194 to 229 to improve connectivity in underserved communities.

The progress, however, has occurred within stark realities. Diesel made up 58.11% of the techco’s total energy consumption in 2025, far exceeding gas-powered independent power producers at 23.63% and electricity from the national grid at 18.04%, with renewable energy contributing just 0.05%.

This is not merely an environmental challenge but a financial one. MTN estimates that powering its nationwide network with diesel costs more than NGN60 billion every year. Nigeria’s power sector is marked by persistent grid instability, with 12 national grid collapses reported in 2024 alone, conditions that continue to force telecom operators to lean heavily on generators to sustain network operations.

Notably, MTN Nigeria was one of only four Nigerian companies (alongside Seplat Energy, Access Bank, and Fidelity Bank) that published inaugural financial reports using IFRS S1 and S2 sustainability reporting standards as early adopters, well ahead of the mandatory compliance deadline.

More than one-third of MTN Nigeria’s major suppliers have also aligned with the company’s long-term environmental goals, focused on reducing emissions across its supply chain and operations.

Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Karl Toriola, described the 2025 report as “an important milestone in our commitment to IFRS S1 and S2-aligned disclosure and accountability,” adding that sustainability remains central to the company’s long-term value-creation strategy.

In presenting the 2024 report, Toriola had similarly anchored the company’s ambition to the dual imperatives of building business resilience and unlocking long-term value a consistency of message that suggests the techo’s climate commitments are not a seasonal gesture but a structural shift, even if the road to net zero remains long and diesel-drenched.