The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs) across the Nigerian Army to strengthen military discipline, mentorship and regimentation in support of the service’s ongoing expansion and modernisation efforts.
Lieutenant General Shaibu gave the directive during the closing ceremony of the Second Regimental Sergeant Majors’ Convention 2026 in Benin City, Edo State.
The Army Chief described Regimental Sergeant Majors as indispensable custodians of the military’s professional character and fighting spirit, noting that they serve as direct advisers to commanders, mentors to soldiers and guardians of institutional values.
He emphasised that operational effectiveness goes beyond smartness on the parade ground to include unwavering discipline in combat zones, exemplary conduct without supervision and absolute commitment to duty under demanding field conditions.
Lieutenant General Shaibu urged the senior non-commissioned officers to intensify efforts to address behavioural infractions, including drug abuse, illicit gambling, absenteeism and misuse of social media, which undermine military cohesion and operational readiness.
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He particularly commended the strategic lecture delivered by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), on combating substance abuse across military formations.
During a separate operational visit to Headquarters 4 Brigade in Benin City, the Chief of Army Staff commended personnel for their efforts in maintaining regional stability.
He also said that administrative and operational resource requests submitted by the Brigade Commander had been addressed.
The Army Chief charged troops to protect civilian lives and property while dealing decisively with criminal syndicates.
He reiterated that all military operations must strictly comply with established legal provisions and human rights protocols.
Lieutenant General Shaibu expressed appreciation to the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, resource facilitators and the Edo State Government for their contributions to the convention’s success.
He also acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s continued support for efforts to strengthen the military’s operational capacity.
The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the five-day convention brought together Regimental Sergeant Majors from various Nigerian Army formations, alongside representatives of sister services and other security agencies, to promote standardised regimentation across the military.
