The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged graduating students of the Nigerian Military School (NMS), Zaria, to uphold the tenets of human rights and strictly adhere to the Rules of Engagement (ROE) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in the conduct of military operations.
A statement signed by Captain Chikadibia Viola Anele Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations Nigerian Military School said the COAS gave the charge during the 68th Passing Out Parade of the institution held on Saturday, 1 August 2026, emphasizing that professionalism, discipline and respect for the rule of law remain fundamental to operational effectiveness and national security.
Represented by the Commander Infantry Corps, Major General Godwin Mutkut, the COAS stated that the successful completion of the rigorous six-year military and academic training programme marked a significant milestone in the lives of the graduands. He noted that the comprehensive training was deliberately designed to produce disciplined, resilient, patriotic and morally upright young men equipped with the knowledge, skills and character required to serve the nation with professionalism, excellence and integrity in an increasingly complex security environment.
Lieutenant General Shaibu further encouraged the graduands to take advantage of the Nigerian Army Sponsorship Programmes and other career development opportunities to pursue higher education in reputable universities and colleges across the country. He stressed that continuous learning, professional development and self-improvement remain essential to building a highly skilled, adaptive and combat-ready force capable of addressing emerging security challenges.
The COAS also commended the unwavering support of His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, towards strengthening the operational capacity of the Armed Forces and improving the welfare and standard of living of personnel. He urged the graduands to remain loyal to the Constitution, uphold the core values of the Nigerian Army and conduct themselves as worthy ambassadors of the institution in all circumstances.
Lieutenant General Shaibu further cautioned the graduands against the misuse of social media, particularly the dissemination of unauthorised information capable of undermining operational security and national interest. He reminded them that discipline, discretion and responsible conduct, both on and off duty, are indispensable attributes of every soldier and critical to sustaining the Nigerian Army’s professionalism, credibility and effectiveness in safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
