The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has cautioned against the misuse of social media and other digital platforms, warning that unregulated online engagement could compromise operational security, undermine institutional integrity, and negatively affect ongoing military operations.
He further charged Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs) of the Nigerian Army to deepen and reinforce the warrior ethos as a strategic imperative for sustaining combat power, enhancing operational effectiveness, and ensuring mission success across all formations and units of the Nigerian Army.
Colonel Appolonia Anele, acting Director, Army Public Relations, in a statement said the COAS gave the charge on Thursday, May 7, 2026, during the closing ceremony of the First Regimental Sergeant Majors’ Convention 2026 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,” provided a critical platform for professional engagement, exchange of operational experiences, and strategic discourse focused on strengthening leadership capacity, mentorship culture, and regimental standards in support of the transformation drive of the Nigerian Army.
Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu highlighted the strategic importance of RSMs as custodians of discipline, regimentation, and military tradition, stressing that their leadership influence remains vital in sustaining troop morale, operational cohesion, and esprit de corps, particularly among personnel deployed across various theatres of operations.
He noted that the cultivation of a strong warrior ethos remains central to building resilient, disciplined, and mission-oriented forces capable of effectively confronting emerging and asymmetric security threats.
He, therefore, urged RSMs to lead from the front by enforcing responsible digital conduct, strengthening information discipline, and ensuring strict compliance with established communication protocols within their respective units and formations.
