The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has advocated military training for every Nigerian, saying such training would help citizens better understand the sacrifices and challenges involved in defending the country.
Musa made the proposal during an interview on the African Leadership Podcast with Ken Giami, released on Monday.
According to the minister, military training exposes participants to demanding conditions, including hunger, exhaustion, physical strain and prolonged periods without sleep.
He said such experiences could give Nigerians a better appreciation of endurance and the responsibilities involved in protecting the nation.
“Every Nigerian should be able to go through military training. It will give you a different perspective about life. You will now understand what it means to stay hungry and what it means to work in days without sleep,” Musa said.
He added that military exercises could help people understand the physical demands placed on soldiers, including marching long distances despite exhaustion.
“It will show you what endurance means when you walk kilometres and you are tired but you still need to keep on going,” he said.
Musa said soldiers make significant personal sacrifices in the course of protecting the country, likening their commitment to the biblical principle of giving one’s life for another.
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“And that’s exactly what the military men are doing, putting their lives at stake for their country to move around,” he said.
The former Chief of Defence Staff also appealed to Nigerians to recognise that members of the armed forces are family members who leave their loved ones behind while carrying out their duties.
He said soldiers operate under difficult conditions, including exposure to rain, dust and harsh weather, while working during the day and at night to secure the country.
Musa also urged Nigerians to appreciate the role of the military and avoid insulting soldiers or dismissing the importance of their work.
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“Everybody wants peace, and that is important, so we want them to understand soldiers are fathers, brothers and sisters of people. They’ve families they’ve left behind,” he said.
The minister also linked increased infiltration across Nigeria’s borders to the withdrawal of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali from regional arrangements, saying the Federal Government was strengthening bilateral relations with countries such as Cameroon to improve security along the southern part of the country.
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