‎COAS Warns Army Personnel Against Social Media Misuse

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has warned Nigerian Army personnel against the misuse of social media and digital platforms, saying unregulated online engagements could compromise operational security, undermine institutional integrity, and affect ongoing military operations.
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‎Shaibu gave the warning on Thursday at the closing ceremony of the first Regimental Sergeant Majors’ Convention 2026 in Kaduna. He urged RSMs to lead by example by enforcing responsible digital conduct, strengthening information discipline, and ensuring strict compliance with communication protocols in their units.
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‎He also charged senior non-commissioned officers to intensify mentorship for younger soldiers to preserve regimental values, strengthen professionalism, and promote ethical conduct across all levels of command. According to him, effective mentorship is critical to building a motivated, combat-ready, and professionally grounded force.
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‎The COAS further directed RSMs to deepen the warrior ethos as a strategic requirement for sustaining combat power and ensuring mission success across formations. He said the convention’s theme, _“Empowering Regimental Sergeant Majors to Drive Combat Readiness and Professional Excellence,”_ provided a platform for professional engagement and strategic discourse to strengthen leadership, mentorship culture, and regimental standards.
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‎Underscoring the role of RSMs as custodians of discipline and military tradition, Shaibu said, “Your leadership influence remains vital in sustaining troop morale, operational cohesion, and esprit de corps, especially among personnel deployed across various theatres of operations.” He added that a strong warrior ethos is central to building resilient forces capable of confronting emerging and asymmetric security threats.
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‎Earlier, the Chief of Administration (Army), Maj.-Gen. Isa Abdullahi, said the convention reflects the Army’s commitment to administrative efficiency, professional excellence, and sustained operational readiness. He urged participants to apply the knowledge gained to improve troop welfare, discipline, regimentation, and operational efficiency in their formations.
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