The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has issued a stern warning to Nigerian Army personnel regarding the misuse of social media and other digital platforms. He emphasized that unregulated online activities could jeopardize operational security, erode institutional integrity, and negatively impact ongoing military operations.
Shaibu delivered this warning during the closing ceremony of the first Regimental Sergeant Majors’ (RSMs) Convention 2026, held in Kaduna. He urged RSMs to lead by example by enforcing responsible digital conduct, strengthening information discipline, and ensuring strict adherence to established communication protocols within their units and formations.
The COAS also charged senior non-commissioned officers to intensify mentorship and leadership guidance for younger soldiers. This, he said, is crucial to preserving regimental values, enhancing professionalism, and promoting ethical conduct at all levels of command. He noted that effective mentorship is vital for developing a highly motivated, combat-ready, and professionally grounded force.
Shaibu further called on RSMs to reinforce the warrior ethos as a strategic necessity for sustaining combat power, improving operational effectiveness, and ensuring mission success across all Nigerian Army formations. He stated that the convention's theme, “Empowering Regimental Sergeant Majors to Drive Combat Readiness and Professional Excellence,” provided an essential platform for professional engagement, sharing operational experiences, and strategic discussions focused on strengthening leadership capacity, mentorship culture, and regimental standards to support the army's transformation.
The COAS underscored the strategic importance of RSMs as custodians of discipline, regimentation, and military tradition.
Additionally, during a training session for Military Police personnel, the Nigerian Army Provost Marshal, Major General Mathias Erebulu, warned personnel against using social media. He stated that soldiers who violate the country’s social media regulations face punishment. Erebulu directed commanders and officers commanding to return to their formations and reinforce awareness of the consequences of social media abuse among troops.
“Our soldiers have no business being on social media. When they go against the First Social Media Act, they are punished. So, it behoves the commanders and officers commanding to go back to their various formations and reiterate the consequences of the abuse of social media,” he said.
