COAS Lagbaja raises alarm over drug abuse among soldiers fighting terrorists.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, on Tuesday, decried what he described as rising cases of drug abuse among soldiers deployed in the various theatres of operation.
The COAS made this known in Sokoto State on Tuesday while declaring open a one-day seminar on warrior ethos, with the theme “Optimising Warrior Ethos in the Nigerian Army: A Panacea for Operational Effectiveness,” organised by the Department of Army Transformation and Innovation.
COAS who was represented by the acting General Officer Commanding, 8 Division, Brig. Gen. Ibikunle Ajose, said he hoped that the seminar would address the issue of drug abuse among soldiers, among other issues.
According to him, the seminar is one of the many measures emplaced to mitigate the challenges faced by the troops while operating in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous security environment.
“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.
“This seminar was therefore premised on the need to improve the capacity of personnel towards enhancing warrior ethos and the battle- winning mentality.
“It will also highlight the threats of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorism along with dangers of the substance abuse while executing of your tasks.
” In addition, the prevailing incidence of drug and substance abuse among troops deployed in theatres of operation has become quite worrisome and necessitates troops’ awarenessbin a bid to enhance combat effectiveness,” he added.
He urged commanders at all levels to continue to come up with innovative ideas to upscale their approaches towards improving man-management and battle readiness, which he said was in line with his Command Philosophy for the Nigerian Army.
COAS further commend the Department of Army Innovation and Transformation for organizing the seminar, which he said will raise necessary operational and situational awareness of the troops, ” 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.” he said.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for his continuous strategic guidance and invaluable support to the Nigerian Army.
He further assured the nation of the unalloyed loyalty of the officers and men of the Nigerian Army under his watch to the President, Commander-In-Chief and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chief of Transformation and Innovation, Maj.-Gen. Zakari Abubakar, assured the COAS that the department will continue to direct, engage and not relent in its oars towards the realisation of pillars of the the COAS command philosophy.
Abubakar said the theme of the seminar is equally captures the desire of the Nigerian Army to rejig the fighting spirit of its personnel.
“The seminar is therefore organized to optimize the leadership capacity of junior and middle class officers as well as to intensify warrior ethos and check the menace drug and substance abuse among the troops,” Abubakar said.
The series of lectures were presented by experts, serving and retired military personnel while demonstrations on field readiness, gadgets handlings and some confrontational techniques were featured.
(NAN)
