A bill seeking to establish a Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre to enhance Nigeria’s military coordination and operational effectiveness has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.
The proposed legislation, sponsored by Speaker 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)”.
Key objectives of the centre include strengthening interoperability among the services, modernising responses to asymmetric and hybrid threats, enhancing defence research capacity, and promoting regional and international security cooperation.
The centre is designed as a strategic institution to serve as a hub for defence research, doctrine development, strategic planning, and warfare innovation, while strengthening collaboration among the Army, Navy, Air Force, and other security agencies.
Leading debate on the general principles of the bill, Plateau lawmaker Daniel Asama said the initiative aims to address critical gaps in Nigeria’s defence system, particularly the absence of a dedicated platform for joint doctrine formulation.
He explained that the centre would provide a structured framework for developing, validating, and disseminating joint military doctrines, as well as coordinating research on modern and multi-domain warfare operations.
According to him, Nigeria’s growing security challenges require stronger integration among the services.
“Nigeria faces complex security challenges, including terrorism, insurgency, and cyber warfare, requiring strategic doctrinal coordination among the Armed Forces,” he said.
He added that the absence of a unified doctrine development institution has contributed to operational gaps and limited interoperability across the services.
Asama further stated that the proposed centre would function as both a think-tank and a centre of excellence for defence strategy and operational planning.
“This bill provides the legal and institutional framework for the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre as a think-tank and centre of excellence for doctrine development and warfare strategy”, he said.
The bill, he noted, is timely and strategic in addressing evolving security threats and improving national defence preparedness.
The proposed centre will bring together key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Defence, service chiefs, and security experts from both public and private sectors.
It is also expected to collaborate with defence institutions, academic bodies, international partners, and research organisations on joint doctrine development, simulation technologies, and modern warfare concepts.
Following its second reading, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Defence for further legislative scrutiny.
