Presidential adviser Daniel Bwala says some historical challenges faced by Nigerian ground troops during counter-insurgency and other security operations were worsened by past inter-service rivalries, particularly tensions between the Army and the Air Force. According to Bwala, these feuds at times disrupted coordination and contributed to situations where soldiers on the front lines did not receive timely air support, including close air support, reconnaissance, air mobility, or strike capabilities needed to respond effectively to threats. He adds that such tensions created “silos” within the armed forces, undermining joint planning and execution. Bwala also points to how the resulting gaps in aerial coverage and logistics could leave troops more vulnerable—especially in difficult and expansive areas such as Nigeria’s North-East—leading to issues such as shortages or isolation during operations. He frames the remarks as lessons from earlier campaigns and says current efforts focus on improving air-land integration and strengthening synergy across the services. Bwala argues that better communication, a unified command structure, and shared national security objectives are necessary to address these past institutional frictions and improve mission outcomes.