Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has proposed that every Nigerian should undergo military training, saying such exposure would help citizens better understand the hardships, discipline and sacrifices involved in military service.
Musa made the proposal while speaking on the African Leadership Podcast hosted by Ken Giami. He explained that military training would expose civilians to some of the physical and mental challenges experienced by soldiers, including hunger, exhaustion, sleep deprivation and long-distance movement under difficult conditions.
“Every Nigerian should be able to go through military training. It will give you a different perspective about life,” Musa said, stressing that the experience would help citizens understand what endurance means when a person has to continue moving despite being tired, hungry or physically exhausted.
The former Chief of Defence Staff also highlighted the sacrifices made by troops while protecting the country. According to him, soldiers often leave their families behind and operate for extended periods in difficult environments, facing rain, dust, harsh weather and other challenges while carrying out security duties.
Musa said Nigerians should take these realities into consideration when criticising members of the Armed Forces or questioning the continued deployment of troops to troubled areas. He noted that soldiers also have families and loved ones waiting for them, while they put their lives at risk in the course of their duties.
“Everybody wants peace, and that is important,” the minister said, emphasising that military personnel are working to create a safer environment for Nigerians.
Musa also discussed Nigeria’s border-security challenges, linking increased infiltration partly to security developments in the Sahel following the withdrawal of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). He said Nigeria was strengthening security cooperation with neighbouring countries, including Cameroon, particularly to improve the protection of its southern borders.
The minister’s proposal comes amid ongoing security challenges in Nigeria and renewed discussions about the role of civilians in national security. His comments, however, represent a proposal for military training and should not be taken as an announcement that compulsory military service has already been introduced.
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