The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Waidi Shaibu, has declared zero tolerance for drug and substance abuse among personnel of the Nigerian Army, describing the menace as a major threat to combat readiness and national security.

Mr Shaibu made the declaration on Wednesday at a seminar organised by the Department of Army Transformation and Innovation at the Headquarters of the 4 Special Forces in Doma, Nasarawa State.

The COAS, who was represented by John Lar, Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison, said drug and substance abuse undermined unit cohesion and degraded operational effectiveness.

“The army has zero tolerance for drug and substance abuse. It is a twin impediment to combat readiness and a threat to national security.

“It undermines cohesion and degrades operational effectiveness. I urge commanders at all levels to intensify the fight against this menace within our barracks and formations,” he said.

The seminar had as its theme “Leadership, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Drug and Substance Abuse”.

Mr Shaibu said the seminar was designed to build trust, inspire soldiers with a shared vision and equip them to adapt effectively to the demands of an increasingly unpredictable operational environment.

He added that it was also intended to preserve troops’ morale and combat readiness by addressing mental health challenges and curbing drug and substance abuse.

According to him, the programme is part of ongoing efforts to sensitise junior and middle-cadre officers on the need to embrace appropriate leadership styles and values to achieve operational success.

The army chief said the seminar focused on transformational leadership, management of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the devastating effects of drug and substance abuse on personnel.

“It is also designed to address the challenges of transformational and effective leadership at the junior and middle-cadre levels of the Army.

“We designed this to strengthen the leadership character, commitment and capacity for timely mental evaluation of personnel in this cadre, who constitute a major segment of the Service.

“I am particularly glad to see that the target audience for the seminar is junior and middle-cadre leaders of the Nigerian Army,” he said.

Mr Shaibu stressed that effective leadership in today’s multi-agency operational environment required commanders who not only gave orders but also inspired, mentored and genuinely cared for the welfare of their subordinates.

He noted that the army’s operational objectives could not be fully achieved if the mental health of its personnel was compromised.

The COAS expressed confidence that the seminar would achieve its objectives and urged participants to take full advantage of the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the issues under discussion.

He attributed the successes being recorded against criminals and terrorists in the North-Central and other parts of the country to the loyalty, resilience and dedication of officers and soldiers.

Earlier, the Chief of Transformation and Innovation, Peter Okoye, said the seminar was timely, given the physical and psychological demands of modern military operations.

Mr Okoye said the programme aligned with the COAS’ command philosophy of transforming the Nigerian Army into a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force.

According to him, the initiative will further strengthen the Army’s capacity to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities within joint and multi-agency operations.

“This philosophy underscores the fact that the strength of the Nigerian Army lies not only in its equipment and capabilities but also in the resilience, discipline and mental readiness of its personnel.

“As we continue to record successes in training and operations, we must sustain and strengthen the leadership quality and mental health of personnel to enhance their cohesion and operational efficiency,” he said.

Mr Okoye added that transformational leadership, effective management of PTSD and sustained efforts against drug and substance abuse remained critical to building a disciplined, resilient and effective fighting force.

(NAN)