The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has urged Nigeria’s military institutions to adopt smarter, more strategic thinking and unified planning in response to the country’s evolving security landscape.
Speaking at the opening of the Armed Forces Unified Strategic National Security Exercise (STRANEX 2025) in Abuja on Tuesday, Musa, represented by the Chief of Defence Training, Rear Adm. Ibrahim Shettima, described the exercise as a blueprint for operational excellence amid 21st-century security challenges.
Organised by the National Defence College (NDC) and the Services War Colleges, STRANEX 2025 is a high-level simulation that brings together military strategists, international stakeholders, and government agencies to rehearse responses to complex national security scenarios.
“Our success as a military and as a nation depends on the quality of strategic thinking, the resilience of our institutions, and the unity of our operational communities, both national and international,” Musa said.
He emphasized that STRANEX is not merely academic, but a practical rehearsal for real-world crisis management, where strategic clarity, swift decisions, and inter-agency cooperation are critical.
Musa also commended the participation of international observers and UN partners, describing their presence as a testament to shared global interest in peace, stability, and strategic collaboration.
“This exercise sparks vital conversations on the link between national development and security in an increasingly volatile region,” he added.
The Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Adm. James Okosun, said the exercise aims to sharpen the decision-making capacity of future military leaders in navigating volatile and uncertain operating environments, especially in the face of asymmetric threats.
“To confront today’s threats, we must embrace integrated and comprehensive action. STRANEX allows us to simulate that reality through immersive role-play at the strategic level,” he stated.
Brig. Gen. Olumide Ojo, Director of Higher Military Organisation and Operations at the NDC, described STRANEX as a defence and security problem-solving simulation, designed to train participants in:
Strategic estimates and reporting
Policy analysis and formulation
National security crisis management
Negotiation and mediation
Inter-agency coordination and command roles
He said the exercise is structured across strategic, operational, and ground levels, aligning with the leadership vision of the Chief of Defence Staff and aimed at improving joint-force integration.
“The goal is to synchronise command and staff roles in a unified environment, and expose participants to the realities of high-level defence decision-making,” Ojo concluded.
