Nigerian Army Chief Raises Alarm Over Drug Abuse Among Troops

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has highlighted the rising incidence of drug and substance abuse among troops deployed for operations. This announcement was made during a one-day seminar on warrior ethos held in Sokoto State, themed “Optimising Warrior Ethos in the Nigerian Army: A Panacea for Operational Effectiveness,” organized by the Department of Army Transformation and Innovation.

Represented by Brig. Gen. Ibikunle Ajose, the acting General Officer Commanding, 8 Division, Lagbaja expressed hope that the seminar would effectively address the pressing issue of drug abuse among soldiers.

According to reports from PUNCH, the COAS emphasized the necessity of enhancing the capacity of Nigerian Army personnel to foster a robust warrior ethos and a battle-winning mentality. He stated, “The Nigerian Army has continued to review its tactics, techniques, and procedures to develop both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to confront these challenges.”

Lagbaja reassured attendees of his unwavering support in providing the necessary logistics and guidance for operational tasks. He underscored the importance of addressing various threats, including chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear terrorism.

“The prevailing incidence of drug and substance abuse among troops deployed in theatres of operation has become quite worrisome and necessitates troops’ awareness in a bid to enhance combat effectiveness,” he added.

The COAS urged commanders at all levels to innovate their management approaches to improve troop readiness and effectiveness, aligning with his command philosophy for the Nigerian Army. The seminar aims to be a significant step towards tackling these critical issues affecting the operational capacity of the Army.