The Nigerian Army has cautioned its personnel against the misuse of social media, warning that soldiers who violate existing regulations on online conduct will face disciplinary action.

The warning was issued by the Army Provost Marshal, Maj. Gen. Mathias Erebulu, during a training seminar for Military Police personnel, according to a report by the African Independent Television, AIT, on Thursday.

Erebulu directed commanders and officers in charge of formations to return to their units and intensify awareness campaigns on 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,” he said.

He stressed the need for strict compliance, adding that unit commanders must ensure personnel are properly briefed on the rules governing online engagement.

“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.

The Provost Marshal also reminded personnel of constitutional limits regarding the detention of civilians in military custody, stating that such individuals must be handed over to appropriate law enforcement agencies within 24 hours after preliminary investigations.

“By virtue of the constitution, we are not supposed to have civilians detained in our facility,” he said.

“So, they are reminded that once a civilian is arrested, after doing the due diligence of investigating, within 24 hours, you must hand over that civilian to the agency that’s in charge.”

The seminar, which focused on strengthening operational discipline among Military Police personnel, was featured on AIT’s flagship morning programme, Kakaaki.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the redeployment of Femi Fani-Kayode as ambassador designate to South Africa.

Fani-Kayode was redeployed to South Africa after he was reportedly rejected by the German government.

However, disclosing the current development in a post on X, Fani-Kayode claimed he rejected his initial position to Germany.

He equally claimed he was the one that opted for South Africa.

Fani-Kayode wrote: “It gives me pleasure to announce the fact that Mr. President has graciously approved my posting as Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to South Africa.

“This came a few days after the initial posting to Germany was announced and after I made a formal representation to the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, that I was not comfortable with Germany for a number of personal reasons and given the fact that I had lived in Europe most of my life I would prefer to go to South Africa which is a country that I had never been to and for which I have so much interest.

“I also expressed the fact that I would rather serve in a country that shares some of my convictions, beliefs and values when it comes to world affairs, that has the biggest economy in Africa, that has closer ties to Nigeria and that is more proximate to my political thinking when it comes to foreign affairs and a pan African vision.

“I therefore made an application for a redeployment to South Africa two days after the initial announcement was made and I am pleased to say that after the then Foreign Minister (H.E. Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar) heard my reasons he considered them favourably after which he conveyed the request to Mr. President who graciously approved it.”