COAS warns soldiers against drug abuse, mental health stigma

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu. Photo: Nigerian Army

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has warned Nigerian Army personnel against drug abuse, urging them to strengthen their mental resilience and seek professional help when confronted with psychological challenges.

Shaibu said mental toughness, emotional stability and sound judgment were critical to operational effectiveness, particularly amid the complex security challenges facing the country.

The army chief spoke on Tuesday at a sensitisation seminar on Warrior Ethos, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Management and Drugs/Substance Abuse, organised by the Army Headquarters Department of Transformation and Innovation at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, Kaduna State.

Represented by the Commander, Infantry Corps, Maj.-Gen. Godwin Mutkut, Shaibu said soldiers needed more than physical strength and combat skills to perform effectively.

“The increasingly complex security environment requires soldiers to demonstrate not only physical strength and combat skills but also mental resilience, emotional stability and sound judgment,” he said.

He described warrior ethos as the foundation of military service, anchored on courage, discipline, loyalty, commitment to mission accomplishment and the determination never to abandon fellow soldiers.

Shaibu, however, acknowledged that prolonged exposure to combat, the loss of colleagues, traumatic incidents and separation from families could take a toll on soldiers’ psychological well-being.

“Courage does not make soldiers immune to psychological injuries,” he said, stressing the need for appropriate professional care and rehabilitation for personnel experiencing mental health challenges.

The COAS urged commanders to tackle the stigma associated with seeking psychological support, noting that soldiers should be encouraged to obtain professional assistance without fear of humiliation or unfair treatment.

On substance abuse, he warned that the misuse of drugs and other intoxicating substances could impair judgment, undermine discipline, weaken unit cohesion and expose soldiers and their colleagues to avoidable dangers during operations.

He called for a comprehensive response involving preventive education, effective supervision, early identification, medical intervention, rehabilitation and appropriate disciplinary measures.

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The army chief also urged commanders to recognise that substance abuse could sometimes be associated with unresolved psychological distress, prolonged stress and other personal difficulties.

“Warrior ethos strengthens the determination to fight, psychological resilience enhances the capacity to endure, while freedom from substance abuse preserves the judgment and discipline required for mission accomplishment,” he said.

Shaibu urged military formations and units to translate the seminar’s recommendations into practical measures, including improved welfare services, counselling and rehabilitation for soldiers returning from prolonged or traumatic operational deployments.

He commended President Bola Tinubu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for his strategic guidance and support to the Nigerian Army.

Earlier, the Chief of Army Transformation and Innovation, Maj.-Gen. Peter Okoye, represented by his deputy, Maj.-Gen. Michael Agi, said the seminar was organised to reinforce the fighting spirit, strengthen regimentation and promote unit cohesion among military personnel.

Okoye said the focus on warrior ethos, mental toughness, PTSD management and substance abuse reflected the need to address psychological and behavioural challenges that could undermine military effectiveness.

He said the initiative aligned with the COAS’s command philosophy, which recognised personnel welfare and mental and physical well-being as essential components of operational readiness.

The chief urged participants to apply the lessons from the seminar in their respective formations, units and training institutions.

He also commended Shaibu for approving the seminar and providing the resources for its successful organisation, urging participants to “bridge the gap between trauma and valour” while upholding the honour of the Nigerian Army and contributing to national security.

The seminar, scheduled to run from October 26 to 31, brings together military personnel and resource persons to examine warrior ethos, PTSD management and substance abuse and their implications for operational effectiveness.