COAS Shaibu Urges Soldiers to Build Mental Resilience Against Operational Stress
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has urged Nigerian Army personnel to cultivate mental resilience, ethical discipline and strong character as critical attributes for confronting contemporary security threats.
Shaibu made the call on Wednesday at a sensitisation seminar on Warrior Ethos, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Management and Drugs/Substance Abuse held in Kachia, Kaduna State.
Represented by the General Officer Commanding, 1 Division Nigerian Army and Commander, Sector 1, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Maj.-Gen. Abubakar Wase, the COAS said the demands of contemporary military operations extended beyond physical fitness, weapons proficiency and tactical competence.
He said personnel must equally demonstrate psychological resilience, strength of character, discipline and the ability to remain effective under prolonged and extreme operational pressure.
According to him, the Nigerian Army’s engagements against terrorism, insurgency, banditry, militancy and other asymmetric threats expose personnel to considerable physical, psychological and moral pressures.
Shaibu therefore described mental preparedness as an integral component of combat readiness, stressing that psychological resilience was as important as tactical proficiency.
He identified warrior ethos, PTSD awareness and management, and the prevention of drug and substance abuse as interconnected issues with direct implications for fighting spirit, unit cohesion, personnel welfare and mission success.
The COAS said warrior ethos must remain the moral and psychological foundation of the Nigerian Army, motivating soldiers to remain courageous, disciplined and resolute in the face of adversity.
He, however, cautioned against interpreting warrior ethos as an expectation that personnel should suppress genuine psychological difficulties or endure them in silence.
“True resilience includes recognising when support is required and having the courage to seek it,” he said.
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Shaibu urged commanders at all levels to foster an environment where soldiers could raise legitimate concerns early and obtain appropriate support without fear of stigma.
He also tasked commanders with knowing their personnel, monitoring behavioural changes and recognising early signs that prolonged operational exposure could be affecting their performance or wellbeing.
On substance abuse, the COAS described the misuse of drugs and other substances as a serious threat to military discipline, sound judgment, personnel health, unit cohesion and operational effectiveness.
He called for stronger prevention and awareness programmes, supported by 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 critical challenges arising from the physical and psychological demands of contemporary military operations.
Augustine said the initiative was consistent with the COAS’s leadership philosophy, particularly his emphasis on leadership and mentorship, stronger unit cohesion and improved operational efficiency.
He noted that the Army’s transformation agenda must extend beyond equipment, technology and doctrine to include 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 News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seminar, themed “Warrior Ethos: Building Ethical Leadership and Unit Cohesion,” featured presentations on intensifying warrior ethos and mental toughness, the effect of PTSD on Nigerian Army operational effectiveness, and the impact of drugs and substance abuse on operational effectiveness.
The programme also featured interactive sessions involving military officers and representatives of relevant agencies, with discussions focused on psychological resilience, professional discipline, unit cohesion and operational effectiveness.
By PRNigeria
