The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has expressed concern over the rising cases of drug abuse among soldiers fighting terrorists. He emphasized this issue during a seminar on warrior ethos in Sokoto, where he was represented by Brig. Gen. Ibikunle Ajose.
The seminar, themed “Optimising Warrior Ethos in the Nigerian Army: A Panacea for Operational Effectiveness,” aimed to address the challenges facing the army, including drug abuse. Lagbaja acknowledged the Nigerian Army’s zero-tolerance policy for drug abuse and urged commanders to develop innovative strategies to prevent and address this issue.
He also promised continued support for troops, ensuring they receive necessary logistics and guidance for successful operations. The Department of Army Transformation and Innovation organized the seminar to enhance warrior ethos, battle-winning mentality, and operational effectiveness.
Maj. Gen. Zakari Abubakar emphasized the importance of optimizing leadership capacity and intensifying efforts to combat drug and substance abuse among troops. Research suggests that substance abuse is a significant challenge among Nigerian Army personnel.
The Nigerian Army has continued to review its tactics to address these challenges, including kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to defeat terrorism. Lagbaja’s concern underscores the need for sustained efforts to address drug abuse and ensure the well-being and effectiveness of soldiers.
