COAS Urges Army RSMs to Reinforce Warrior Ethos, Warns Against Social Media Misuse

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has called on Regimental Sergeant Majors of the Nigerian Army to deepen the warrior ethos as a strategic pillar for sustaining combat power and ensuring mission success across all formations.

Shaibu gave the charge on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at the closing ceremony of the First Regimental Sergeant Majors’ Convention held at the JN Garba Hall, Postgraduate School, Old Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.

The convention, themed _“Empowering Regimental Sergeant Majors to Drive Combat Readiness and Professional Excellence,”_ brought together senior non-commissioned officers for discussions on leadership, mentorship, and regimental standards in line with the Army’s transformation agenda.

In his address, the COAS described RSMs as custodians of discipline, regimentation, and military tradition, stressing that their influence is critical to maintaining troop morale, operational cohesion, and esprit de corps, especially among personnel deployed in theatres of operation.

He said a strong warrior ethos is essential to building resilient and disciplined forces capable of confronting emerging and asymmetric security threats.

Shaibu also cautioned against the misuse of social media and other digital platforms, warning that unregulated online activity could compromise operational security and undermine institutional integrity.

“RSMs must lead from the front by enforcing responsible digital conduct, strengthening information discipline, and ensuring strict compliance with established communication protocols within their units and formations,” he said.

The COAS further charged the senior non-commissioned officers to intensify mentorship for younger soldiers to preserve regimental values and promote ethical conduct at all levels of command. He noted that effective mentorship is key to developing a motivated, combat-ready, and professional force.

Earlier, Chief of Administration (Army) Major General Isa Abdullahi said the convention reflects the Army’s commitment to administrative efficiency and operational readiness in line with the COAS’ command philosophy. He urged participants to apply the knowledge gained to improve troop welfare, discipline, and efficiency in their respective formations.