*As Telecom Firm Pledges Deeper Partnership with Military
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Committee on the review of the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s Joint Defence Doctrine has visited Headquarters Theatre Command, Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Maiduguri, as part of its nationwide consultations on the ongoing doctrinal review. The visit took place on Wednesday, 27 August 2025.
The visit was confirmed in a statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI, on Thursday, 28 August 2025.
The four-man DHQ committee, led by Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Isah, met with the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, alongside field commanders and officers, to gather field-based contributions to the revised doctrine.
Welcoming the delegation, Major General Abubakar commended the Defence Headquarters for initiating the review, describing it as “timely and essential for enhancing interoperability and jointness within the Armed Forces.”
He stressed that joint operations remain the backbone of operational success in the OPHK theatre and provided further doctrinal inputs from the Theatre’s operational experiences.
In his remarks, Committee Chairman, AVM Isah, explained that the doctrine, which is reviewed every five years, was due for an update hence the directive of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, OFR.
He added that the team was consulting formations and units nationwide to ensure a robust and inclusive review.
During the session, Brigadier General Nelson Okafor, Commander 57 Signals Brigade, presented the Theatre Command’s doctrinal contributions on behalf of the command. The engagement also featured an interactive session where clarifications were provided and additional perspectives shared.
Meanwhile, the Theatre Command also hosted a courtesy visit from IHS Towers and Strength, a leading telecommunications infrastructure company. The firm’s team, led by retired Colonel Abdulkadir Ahmed, pledged enhanced collaboration with the military in securing critical national infrastructure across the North East.
Col. Ahmed highlighted the vulnerability of telecom facilities in conflict-prone areas and underscored the need for continued military support.
He further noted that IHS had provided support to some military locations as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
In response, Major General Abubakar expressed appreciation for the company’s contributions and reaffirmed the Theatre’s commitment to safeguarding strategic national assets in line with the recent Presidential directive on the protection of critical infrastructure.