The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has emphasized that a strong warrior ethos remains the cornerstone of combat readiness, mental resilience, and operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army.
The COAS made this known while speaking at a high-level seminar organised by the Army Headquarters Department of Transformation and Innovation. The seminar focused on strengthening unit cohesion and addressing emerging challenges affecting troop performance, particularly Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and drug abuse, which were identified as serious threats to operational efficiency.
The seminar, themed “Warrior Ethos: A Tool for Building Unit Cohesion and a Combat-Ready Force,” was held at the Headquarters 8 Division Auditorium. It attracted senior officers and soldiers from the Theatre Command of Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA (OPFY), as well as other key stakeholders.
Represented at the event by the Theatre Commander, OPFY, Major General Warrah Idris, the COAS stressed that instilling a strong warrior ethos anchored on core military values such as courage, selfless service, vigilance, discipline, and mental and physical resilience is essential for mission success. He noted that these values must be deliberately cultivated at the unit level to enhance cohesion, morale, and readiness.
According to him, PTSD and drug abuse constitute dual challenges capable of eroding the fighting strength and effectiveness of troops. He described the seminar as a timely intervention, providing a platform for reflection, knowledge sharing, and the development of practical strategies aimed at strengthening the force.
In his welcome address, the Chief of Transformation and Innovation (Army), Major General Samson Abai, stated that the seminar aligns with the COAS’ Command Philosophy of transforming the Nigerian Army into a professional, adaptable, and resilient force. He noted that the programme was designed to address the mental and psychological demands of prolonged military operations while reinforcing unit cohesion and combat preparedness.
Major General Abai commended the COAS for prioritising the human dimension of military operations and expressed appreciation to participants for their commitment to professional development and institutional growth.
The seminar featured seasoned resource persons with extensive operational experience who delivered three lectures. These included “Intensifying Warrior Ethos and Mental Toughness” by Major General Charles Ofoche (retd); “Effect of Drug Abuse on Nigerian Army Operational Effectiveness” by the Deputy Commander, Narcotics Command, Sokoto, Abdulrazak Umar; and “Overcoming Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder” by Lieutenant Colonel Dr Suzan Dibal (retd).
Highlights of the event included interactive sessions, group discussions, networking opportunities during tea and lunch breaks, presentation of souvenirs to distinguished guests, and group photographs.