The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has charged Nigerian Army personnel to develop mental resilience, strong character and ethical discipline to effectively confront emerging security threats.
Shaibu gave the charge on Wednesday at a sensitisation seminar on Warrior Ethos, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) management, and drug and substance abuse held in Kachia, Kaduna State.
The COAS, represented by the General Officer Commanding, 1 Division Nigerian Army and Commander, Sector 1, Operation Fansan Yamma, Maj. Gen. Abubakar Wase, said modern military operations require more than physical fitness, weapons proficiency and tactical competence.
He said soldiers must possess the mental strength and discipline required to remain effective under prolonged and extreme operational pressure.
According to him, troops engaged in operations against terrorism, insurgency, banditry, militancy and other asymmetric threats are exposed to significant physical, psychological and moral pressures.
“Contemporary military operations demand more than physical fitness, weapon proficiency and tactical competence. They require mental resilience, strength of character, discipline and the capacity to remain effective under prolonged and extreme operational pressures,” he said.
Shaibu stressed that mental readiness was an essential component of combat preparedness, noting that psychological resilience was as important as tactical proficiency.
He identified Warrior Ethos, awareness and management of PTSD, and prevention of drug and substance abuse as interconnected issues that could affect troops’ fighting spirit, unit cohesion, welfare and mission success.
The Army chief said Warrior Ethos must remain a moral and psychological foundation for personnel, inspiring troops to remain courageous, disciplined and resolute in the face of adversity.
He, however, cautioned commanders against interpreting Warrior Ethos as an instruction for soldiers to suppress genuine psychological difficulties or suffer in silence.
Shaibu urged commanders at all levels to create an environment where soldiers could raise legitimate concerns early and access appropriate support without fear of unnecessary stigma.
He also charged commanders to know their personnel, monitor behavioural changes and identify signs that prolonged exposure to combat operations could be affecting their performance or wellbeing.
The COAS described drug and substance abuse as a serious threat to military discipline, sound judgment, health, unit cohesion and operational effectiveness.
He called for stronger preventive and educational programmes, alongside appropriate testing, counselling, rehabilitation and disciplinary measures where necessary.
Earlier, the Chief of Army Transformation and Innovation, Maj. Gen. Peter Augustine, represented by his deputy, Maj. Gen. I.O. Bassey, said the seminar was organised to address challenges arising from the physical and psychological demands of contemporary military operations.
Augustine said the initiative was in line with the COAS’s leadership philosophy, particularly his emphasis on leadership and mentorship, stronger unit cohesion and improved operational efficiency.
He said the Army’s transformation agenda should extend beyond equipment, technology and doctrine to include greater attention to the human element.
“The Nigerian Army must remain a modern, adaptive and people-centred force, capable of responding effectively to current and emerging challenges,” he said.
The seminar, themed “Warrior Ethos: Building Ethical Leadership and Unit Cohesion,” featured lectures on intensifying Warrior Ethos and mental toughness, the effects of PTSD on Nigerian Army operational effectiveness, and the impact of drug and substance abuse on military operations.
The event also featured interactive sessions involving military officers and representatives of relevant agencies, with discussions focusing on psychological resilience, professional discipline, unit cohesion and operational effectiveness.
