COAS rallies RSMs to reinforce warrior ethos for sustained combat power

By Brown Chimezie,

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has 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 formations and units nationwide.
The COAS gave the charge on Thursday during the closing ceremony of the First Regimental Sergeant Majors’ Convention 2026 held at the JN Garba Hall.

The convention, themed “Empowering Regimental Sergeant Majors to Drive Combat Readiness and Professional Excellence,” provided a platform for professional engagement, exchange of operational experiences and strategic discussions aimed at strengthening leadership capacity, mentorship culture and regimental standards in support of the Nigerian Army’s transformation drive.
In his address, Lieutenant General Shaibu described 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, especially among personnel deployed across various theatres of operations.

He noted that cultivating a strong warrior ethos is central to building resilient, disciplined and mission-oriented forces capable of confronting emerging and asymmetric security threats effectively.
According to a statement issued by Colonel Appolonia Anele, the COAS also cautioned against the misuse of social media and other digital platforms, warning that unregulated online engagements could compromise operational security, undermine institutional integrity and negatively affect ongoing military operations.

He therefore urged RSMs to lead by example through the enforcement of responsible digital conduct, strengthened information discipline and strict adherence to established communication protocols within their units and formations.
Lieutenant General Shaibu further charged senior non-commissioned officers to intensify mentorship and leadership guidance for younger soldiers in order to preserve regimental values, strengthen professionalism and promote ethical conduct at all levels of command responsibility.

He emphasised that effective mentorship remains critical to developing a highly motivated, combat-ready and professionally grounded force.
Earlier, the Chief of Administration (Army), Major General Isa Abdullahi, said the convention reflected the Nigerian Army’s commitment to enhancing administrative efficiency, professional excellence and sustained operational readiness in line with the COAS’ command philosophy.

He urged participants to translate the knowledge, experiences and strategic insights gained during the convention into improved troop welfare, discipline, regimentation and operational efficiency across their respective formations and units.