The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, expressed grave concerns about the increasing instances of drug abuse among soldiers during a recent seminar held in Sokoto.
The event, themed ‘Optimising Warrior Ethos in the Nigerian Army: A Panacea for Operational Effectiveness’, was organized by the Department of Army Transformation and Innovation to address pressing issues affecting the military’s operational capacity.
Represented by Brig. Gen. Ibikunle Ajose, the acting General Officer Commanding of the 8 Division, Lt. Gen. Lagbaja emphasized the importance of this seminar in tackling the disturbing trend of substance abuse among troops.
He articulated a commitment to ensuring that soldiers receive the necessary logistical support and guidance to enhance their operational effectiveness, particularly in the ongoing Operation Hadarin Daji in Sokoto State.
“I can assure you of my continuous support to provide the much-needed logistics and guidance required for the execution of your tasks,” Lagbaja stated, reiterating his dedication to the welfare and readiness of the troops.
He highlighted the Nigerian Army’s ongoing efforts to adapt and refine its strategies, both kinetic and non-kinetic, to meet the challenges posed by various threats, including the rising concern of drug use.
“The Nigerian Army has continued to review its tactics, techniques and procedures in order to come up with both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to defeat these challenges,” he said.
The COAS further emphasized that this seminar was critical not only for enhancing the capacity of army personnel but also for fostering a strong warrior ethos and a battle-winning mentality among the troops.
He noted, “This seminar was, therefore, premised on the need to improve the capacity of the Nigerian Army personnel towards enhancing warrior ethos and the battle-winning mentality.”
Addressing the potential dangers posed by chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear terrorism in Nigeria, Lagbaja urged commanders at all levels to innovate and improve their management strategies to enhance troop readiness.
“In addition, the prevailing incidence of drug and substance abuse among troops deployed in theatres of operation has become quite worrisome and necessitates troops’ awareness in a bid to enhance combat effectiveness,” he warned.
In a call to action, he encouraged all participants to embrace creativity and commitment in their roles.
“I implore you all to remain innovative and committed. By so doing, you will have helped to raise the standard that the Nigerian Army requires to deliver on its constitutional mandate. This event is, therefore, timely and will avail participants a better understanding of the key issues to improve on operational effectiveness,” Lagbaja remarked.
Earlier, Maj. Gen. Zakari Abubakar, the Chief of Transformation and Innovation from Army Headquarters, reassured the COAS that his department would persist in its efforts to fulfill the key pillars of the COAS command philosophy.
“The seminar is organised to optimise the leadership capacity of junior and middle-class officers as well as to intensify warrior ethos and check the menace of drug and substance abuse among the troops,” Abubakar confirmed.
This seminar stands as a crucial step in reinforcing the Nigerian Army’s commitment to operational excellence and the well-being of its personnel, addressing both the tactical challenges on the ground and the personal struggles faced by its members.
