The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has urged troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division to remain focused and resilient, particularly when dealing with traumatic experiences arising from their operations.
Shaibu spoke on Wednesday at the opening of a three-day seminar on transformational leadership, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and drug and substance abuse. The Army Headquarters Department of Army Transformation and Innovation organised the seminar at the 6 Division barracks in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Represented by the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Maj. Gen. Everest Okoro, the COAS said soldiers operated in volatile environments and were often exposed to traumatic and stressful situations that placed considerable psychological demands on them.
He said the seminar was designed to build trust, strengthen leadership and help troops develop the resilience needed to cope with operational stress.
Shaibu said the Army’s efforts were particularly important as troops continued to confront security threats including terrorism, insurgency, militancy, banditry, piracy and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
He added that the programme aimed to prepare soldiers to become disciplined, resilient and combat-ready, while improving their understanding of how leadership and mental health affected operational performance.
“The Nigerian Army operates in a security environment shaped by volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous dynamics, which expose our troops to intense operational pressure and psychological strain. These conditions demand physical readiness, mental resilience, sound judgement and strength of character,” he said.
Shaibu said the seminar would examine operational effectiveness in a joint environment, including the roles of regimentation and junior leadership, as well as the effects of PTSD and drug and substance abuse on performance.
He said an interactive session with families had also been included to recognise the role spouses played in supporting personnel and contributing to operational success.
The COAS said the seminar aligned with his vision of building a professional, adaptable, resilient and combat-ready Nigerian Army. He urged participants to use the discussions to strengthen unit cohesion, operational effectiveness and mission success.
He said soldiers were the Army’s most important combat capability and their psychological wellbeing needed to be protected, particularly given the pressures of prolonged deployments.
“The participation of our troops in numerous counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency and other internal security operations exposes them to experiences that may affect their mental health and operational functioning.
“In line with the Nigerian Army’s ‘Soldiers First’ culture, I remain committed to ensuring that our soldiers receive adequate care, sustained support and appropriate professional attention,” he said.
Shaibu said he expected the sessions to encourage early recognition of mental health concerns, timely referrals and shared responsibility for safeguarding troops’ wellbeing.
He also praised President Bola Tinubu for supporting the Army and reaffirmed the troops’ loyalty to the Nigerian Constitution.
In his address, the Chief of Army Transformation and Innovation, Maj. Gen. Peter Okoye, said the seminar was aligned with the COAS’s command philosophy. He said the philosophy sought to make the Army more professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient, with the capacity to carry out its constitutional duties in joint and multi-agency operations.
Okoye, who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Army Transformation and Innovation-Transformation and Emerging Technology, Maj. Gen. Ime Bassey, said maintaining troops’ mental health was essential despite the successes recorded in training and operations.
“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,” he said.
He urged participants to make the most of the seminar’s sessions to deepen their knowledge and prepare for the realities of their operational environment.
