Every Nigerian should be able to undergo military training – Defence Minister

Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd), has proposed mandatory military training for Nigerians.

He said exposure to the demands of military service would give citizens a better appreciation of the sacrifices made by troops.

He made the proposal during an appearance on the African Leadership Podcast with Ken Giami, released on Monday.

He said military training would expose civilians to the physical and mental demands faced by soldiers.

Such demands, he noted, include hunger, exhaustion, lack of sleep 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,” the minister said.

Musa explained that such experience could help Nigerians understand why soldiers sometimes endure harsh conditions for extended periods while carrying out security operations.

“It will show you what endurance means when you walk kilometres and you are tired but you still need to keep on going,” he added.

The former Chief of Defence Staff said troops were required to make personal sacrifices in the course of protecting the country, including putting their lives at risk.

He also urged Nigerians to consider the human cost of military operations when assessing the performance of security personnel.

According to him, soldiers are also members of families who leave their loved ones behind while deployed to areas where they may spend long periods exposed to harsh weather and other operational difficulties.

Musa said this reality should be taken into account when members of the public criticise troops or question the continued deployment of the military in troubled areas.

“Everybody wants peace, and that is important,” he said, stressing that troops were working to create the conditions necessary for citizens to live securely.

The minister also spoke on Nigeria’s border-security challenges.

He attributed part of the increased infiltration to developments in the Sahel following the withdrawal of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali from ECOWAS.

He said Nigeria was responding by strengthening security cooperation with neighbouring countries, including Cameroon.

He said the cooperation particularly includes efforts to protect the country’s southern borders.

Musa’s comments come as Nigeria continues to rely on military deployments and regional security cooperation in tackling threats along its borders and in other parts of the country.