The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has called for military training for Nigerians, saying it would promote discipline, endurance, teamwork and patriotism.
Musa made the call in an interview on the African Leadership Podcast with Ken Giami, released on YouTube on Monday.
The minister said military training would give Nigerians a better understanding of hardship and the sacrifices involved in protecting the country.
“For me, I think it’s the best. If I have my way, every Nigerian should be able to go through military training,” Musa said.
He said such training would teach people how to endure difficult conditions, including hunger, lack of sleep and long-distance walks.
Musa also said military training would help Nigerians understand the importance of working with others rather than trying to achieve everything alone.
“No man is an island. No man is an island, so you need a team, and the military is a team that works together. So that’s very critical for us,” he said.
The minister, who joined the Nigerian Defence Academy as a cadet in 1986 and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1991, also spoke about the sacrifices made by military personnel and their families.
He said he spent much of the first 17 years of his marriage away from his family because of his military duties.
“Like I told people, for the first 17 years of our marriage, I never spent 30 days straight with my family. Never,” he said.
Musa said the sacrifices made by troops should be recognised, noting that many personnel spend long periods away from their families while serving in difficult conditions.
He warned that negative comments about soldiers could affect their morale.
“And if you demoralise your troops, they can’t give you their best,” he said.
On insecurity, Musa said military action alone could not end insurgency, stressing the need for both military and non-military measures.
He said kinetic operations accounted for about 25 to 30 per cent of the response to insurgency, while non-kinetic measures accounted for about 70 per cent.
According to him, improving access to food, healthcare, roads, schools and security was important to addressing the conditions that fuel insecurity.
The minister also urged Nigerians to develop stronger patriotism and belief in the country.
“I think the important thing is for Nigerians to believe in the country. That’s very critical,” he said.
“If you don’t love your country, you can’t defend it.”
Musa said the military would continue working to maintain peace and security across the country, while urging Nigerians not to allow challenges to discourage troops.
“We want Nigeria to be peaceful, as it used to be in the past. So we can do it, and we’re achieving that process,” he said.
