NDLEA OSUN STATE COMMAND SENSITIZES 5,300 NIGERIAN ARMY RECRUITS ON THE DANGERS OF DRUG ABUSE

 

Theme: Tactical Sobriety and Combat Readiness: Drug Abuse and the Decimation of Soldiering Proficiency

Today, 20th July 2026, the Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Osun State Command, Commander Olayinka Joe-Fadile, personally led a team of officers to deliver a sensitization lecture on the dangers of hard drugs and substance abuse to 5,300 newly recruited soldiers of the Nigerian Army 91 Regular Course 2026 at the Nigerian Army Depot, Oke-Baale, Osogbo.

Speaking on the theme, "Tactical Sobriety and Combat Readiness: Drug Abuse and the Decimation of Soldiering Proficiency," Commander Olayinka Joe-Fadile admonished the recruits to abstain from hard drugs and substance abuse, stressing that maintaining a drug-free lifestyle is essential for their personal well-being, military professionalism, and effective national service. He emphasized that discipline, sound judgment, and mental alertness are indispensable qualities of every professional soldier.

The Commander warned that the consequences of drug abuse extend beyond the individual, explaining that the impairment of even a single soldier during combat operations could jeopardize the safety of an entire unit, compromise mission success, and potentially lead to troops being overrun in the theatre of operations.

Furthermore, Commander Olayinka highlighted how drug abuse neutralizes the "Human Weapon System" by significantly slowing a soldier's reaction time. He explained that a soldier capable of reacting within 2 seconds under normal conditions could experience a delayed response of up to 1 minute and 8 seconds when under the influence of illicit substances. He further noted that drug abuse degrades marksmanship, decision-making, coordination, and situational awareness, thereby making an affected soldier a danger to himself, his colleagues, his unit, the Nigerian Army, and ultimately, National Security.

In his vote of thanks, Lieutenant Colonel E. M. Ukande, who represented the Commandant, Brigadier General B. M. Madaki, expressed profound appreciation to Commander Olayinka Joe-Fadile for his unwavering commitment to shaping the lives of young recruits and protecting Nigerian soldiers from the dangers of drug abuse. He commended the enduring collaboration between the Nigerian Army and the NDLEA and reaffirmed the Army's commitment to strengthening the existing synergy between both organizations in promoting discipline, operational effectiveness, and national security.

ASN1 Bosede Esther Fadare

S/O Media & Advocacy

NDLEA Osun State Command.