The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, says the ongoing expansion of the Nigerian Army will strengthen its operational reach and capacity to provide the secure environment needed for entrepreneurship, the Orange Economy and other sectors of the national economy to thrive.
Lieutenant General Shaibu made the statement on Tuesday, while delivering a lecture titled, “Safeguarding the Orange Economy and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development: The Role of the Nigerian Army,” to participants of Senior Executive Course 48, 2026, at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Plateau State.
The Army Chief described the Orange Economy, covering arts, culture, music, film and digital content, as an increasingly important contributor to employment, investment, cultural diplomacy and national development.
He noted that Nigeria’s creative talents continue to project the country internationally while creating new opportunities for wealth generation beyond traditional economic sectors.
Lieutenant General Shaibu stressed that creativity and enterprise require a stable security environment to flourish.
He noted that insecurity disrupts economic activities, restricts mobility, discourages investment and undermines productivity.
The Army Chief therefore linked national security directly to sustainable economic development, arguing that military operations contribute to national growth by helping create the conditions in which businesses, entrepreneurs, investors and creative professionals can operate with greater confidence.
On the ongoing expansion of the Nigerian Army, the COAS explained that the establishment of additional formations and units is intended to broaden the Army’s operational footprint, strengthen its presence in vulnerable areas and improve its responsiveness to emerging security threats.
He added that the expanded force structure would enhance the protection of communities, critical national infrastructure and economic activities, while denying terrorists and other criminal elements the freedom of action required to disrupt economic and social activities.
A statement issued by Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the COAS called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, government institutions, the private sector and stakeholders in the creative industry, emphasising that national security remains a collective responsibility.
Lieutenant General Shaibu reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening the security environment necessary for investment, entrepreneurship and sustainable national development, placing the Army’s expanding operational footprint within a broader economic and developmental context.
