Defense Minister: Every Nigerian should undergo military training

…The Defense Minister says the experience will expose citizens to the difficulties and sacrifices of soldiers

….’You will understand what it means to be hungry, to work without sleeping’

Daud Olatunji

Nigeria’s Defense Minister, retired General Christopher Musa, has called on every Nigerian to undergo military training, saying such experience would give citizens a deeper understanding of the demands and sacrifices involved in defending the country.

Musa made the call while speaking on the African Leadership podcast with Ken Giami, where he discussed the challenges facing Nigeria’s armed forces and the conditions in which military personnel operate.

The minister said military training would expose citizens to the physical and psychological demands of military service, including hunger, exhaustion, sleep deprivation and the need to continue working despite extreme tiredness.

According to him, such exposure would help Nigerians appreciate the endurance required of soldiers deployed in harsh and sometimes dangerous environments.

“Every Nigerian should be able to undergo military training. This will give you a different perspective on life. Now you will understand what it means to stay hungry and what it means to work days without sleep,” Musa said.

He added that military training would demonstrate the level of endurance required of troops who are sometimes forced to cover long distances despite exhaustion.

“It will show you what endurance means when you walk for miles and you’re tired but you still have to keep going.

“You didn’t eat; you didn’t take one because of the nature of the thing and because you’re doing it to protect yourself,” he said.

Musa said the soldiers were putting their lives at risk to protect the lives and properties of other Nigerians.

“And that’s exactly what the military is doing, putting their lives at risk to keep their country moving,” the minister said.

The Defense Minister also appealed to Nigerians to show greater appreciation for military personnel, stressing that soldiers are also members of families who leave loved ones behind while serving in harsh environments.

He urged citizens to consider the conditions in which troops operate when evaluating the military’s performance.

“Everyone wants peace, and that’s important, so we want them to understand that soldiers are fathers, brothers and sisters of the people.

“They have families that they left behind, who remain in weather, in rain, in dust, night or day, staying there to ensure the country is safe,” Musa said.

His comments come in the context of Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges, including terrorism, banditry and kidnappings in some parts of the country.

During the podcast, Musa also spoke about efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s counterinsurgency capabilities, including developing greater domestic capacity to produce military equipment.

The minister also linked increased infiltration along some Nigerian borders to developments involving Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, which have withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States.

He said Nigeria was strengthening bilateral security cooperation with neighboring countries, including Cameroon, as part of efforts to improve border security and protect the country’s southern flank.

PLATFORM TIMES found that Musa’s appeal comes in the context of the ongoing national debate on military preparedness, civic responsibility and the need for greater public understanding of the demands placed on security personnel.

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