The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has proposed that every Nigerian should undergo military training, saying the experience would help citizens better understand the sacrifices and demands associated with protecting the country.
Musa made the proposal while speaking on the African Leadership Podcast hosted by Ken Giami, where he discussed the physical demands of military service and the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces.
According to the minister, exposure to military training would give Nigerians a different perspective on life by allowing them to experience conditions such as hunger, exhaustion, lack of sleep and prolonged physical exertion.
He said citizens would gain a better understanding of endurance and the determination required by soldiers to continue carrying out their duties despite difficult circumstances.
“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. You will now understand what it means to stay hungry, what it means to walk in days without sleep.
“It will show you what endurance means, when you walk kilometers and you are tired but you still need to keep on going. You have not eaten, you have not taken one because of the nature of the thing and because you are doing it to protect.
“Just like what the Bible says that there’s no greater friend than he who will give his life for his friend.
“And that’s exactly what the military men are doing, putting their lives at stake for their country to move around. And so that’s why sometimes it’s very painful when you see people insulting the military and telling them they don’t need it or we don’t want this to end. Nobody’s dying now, and they don’t want it to end,” he said.
Musa also appealed to Nigerians to have greater appreciation for the personal sacrifices made by military personnel, noting that soldiers leave their families behind while serving in challenging environments.
The former Chief of Defence Staff said military personnel operate in difficult conditions, including rain, dust, night and day, while working to maintain security across the country. He argued that a better understanding of these realities could help bridge the gap between civilians and members of the Armed Forces.
During the interview, Musa also discussed the importance of teamwork in military operations, stressing that individuals cannot operate effectively in isolation.
He further addressed Nigeria’s security challenges, saying the fight against insurgency requires both military and non-military approaches. According to him, addressing issues such as access to food, healthcare, roads and education is also important to improving security.
Musa’s comments amount to a proposal for broader military exposure among Nigerians; no implementation framework or timeline for such a programme was outlined in the remarks reported from the interview.
