The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed for second reading a bill seeking to establish the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre, a proposed strategic think-tank aimed at strengthening the operational capacity, coordination, and effectiveness of Nigeria’s Armed Forces.
The bill, sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, is titled: “A Bill for an Act to Establish the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre to Enhance the Coordination and Effectiveness of Military Operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria by Integrating the Capabilities of Its Respective Services; and for Related Matters (HB 2741).”
The proposed centre is designed to serve as a hub for defence research, doctrine development, strategic planning, and warfare innovation, with a focus on improving collaboration among Nigeria’s military and paramilitary institutions.
Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill on behalf of the Speaker, Plateau lawmaker, Daniel Asama, said the proposed legislation is intended to address critical gaps in Nigeria’s defence architecture, particularly the absence of a dedicated institution for the formulation and coordination of joint military doctrines.
According to him, the centre will provide a comprehensive framework for the development, validation, and dissemination of joint military doctrines across the armed forces, while also coordinating interdisciplinary studies on multi-domain operations.
Asama noted that Nigeria’s security environment has become increasingly complex, requiring a more integrated and strategic response.
“Nigeria faces complex security challenges, including terrorism, insurgency, and cyber warfare, requiring strategic doctrinal coordination among the Armed Forces,” he said.
“The absence of a dedicated institution for joint military doctrine formulation has created operational gaps and limited interoperability among the services.”
He explained that the proposed centre would function as both a think-tank and a centre of excellence for doctrine development and warfare strategy.
“This bill seeks to provide an institutional and legal framework for the recently established Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre as a think-tank and centre of excellence for doctrine development and warfare strategy,” Ago stated.
“It addresses the need for integrated doctrine development, unified command thinking, and joint operational planning.”
The lawmaker described the legislation as timely and strategic, especially in light of Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
“This bill is strategic and timely, addressing Nigeria’s evolving security threats and promoting interoperability among the Armed Forces,” he said.
“It establishes a permanent platform for defence research, simulation, and policy coordination, thereby enhancing national security sustainability.”
The proposed centre will bring together key stakeholders in the nation’s security architecture, including the Ministers of Defence, service chiefs, and private-sector security experts.
Its responsibilities will include integrating warfare strategies, assessing emerging threats, evaluating operational requirements, and providing strategic direction for improved defence and security operations.
The centre is also expected to collaborate with national defence institutions, academic bodies, international partners, and research organisations on issues relating to joint doctrine, simulation technologies, and modern warfare concepts.
Among its key objectives are modernising Nigeria’s response to hybrid, asymmetric, and transnational threats; strengthening interoperability among the Army, Navy, and Air Force; enhancing defence research and strategic studies; and fostering regional and international defence cooperation.
He added that the establishment of the centre will significantly bolster Nigeria’s military preparedness and strategic capabilities.
“This bill seeks to strengthen Nigeria’s defence architecture, promoting synergy, preparedness, and military excellence,” he said.
“The Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre will serve as the intellectual and operational hub for defence coordination, doctrine formulation, and integrated warfare planning.”
Following its successful second reading, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Defence for further legislative scrutiny.
The proposed legislation is expected to provide a robust institutional framework for advancing joint military operations, enhancing interoperability, and improving Nigeria’s capacity to respond effectively to both current and emerging security threats.
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