Military training will give Nigerians ‘different perspective about life’ — Defence Minister

Minister of Defence Christopher Musa has said every Nigerian should undergo military training to gain a better understanding of discipline, endurance and the sacrifices involved in military service.

Musa made the remarks while appearing on the African Leadership Podcast hosted by Ken Giami, where he spoke about the conditions military personnel face while carrying out security operations.

The minister said exposure to military training would give citizens a different perspective on life by subjecting them to some of the physical demands experienced by soldiers, including hunger, exhaustion, sleep deprivation and prolonged exertion.

“If I have my way, every Nigerian should be able to go through military training. I can tell you for free; it will give you a different perspective about life,” Musa said.

He said the experience would help people understand endurance, particularly the need for soldiers to continue with their duties despite fatigue and difficult conditions.

Musa also urged Nigerians to appreciate the sacrifices of military personnel, noting that soldiers leave their families behind and operate in difficult environments, often at night and under rain, dust and other challenging conditions.

He said it was therefore painful when members of the public insulted troops or questioned the continuation of security operations.

“Everybody wants peace, and I think that’s very important,” he said, adding that soldiers were also working towards restoring security across the country.

Musa seeks stronger local security response

The minister also advocated stronger local government structures as part of efforts to tackle insecurity, arguing that many security and development challenges originate at the community level.

“Crime and development are local,” he said, stressing that effective local administration could help prevent criminal activities from escalating into wider security problems.

Musa also linked insecurity to factors such as poverty, hunger, inadequate infrastructure and limited economic opportunities.

He said counter-insurgency operations required both military and non-military measures, estimating the kinetic component at about 25 to 30 per cent and the non-kinetic component at about 70 per cent.

The minister further urged Nigerians to provide useful information to security agencies, noting that the nature of asymmetric warfare makes it difficult to identify threats when criminals operate within communities.

Nigeria seeks greater local defence production

Musa also disclosed that the Federal Government was working to expand Nigeria’s capacity to manufacture military equipment locally.

He said reliance on imported defence equipment could delay operations because some equipment takes years to procure, even after payment.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu has approved partnerships between Nigeria’s defence industry and equipment manufacturers to increase local production.

Musa said Nigerian companies were already producing equipment such as armoured personnel carriers, mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles, ammunition, weapons and drones.

He added that research and development units within the Army, Navy and Air Force were also working on locally developed technologies and equipment.

The minister said the government was equally paying greater attention to cybersecurity, describing the protection of Nigeria’s cyberspace as a critical component of national security.

Musa’s comments come amid ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security response while reducing dependence on imported defence equipment.