Nigeria’s Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa, has said he wishes every Nigerian could undergo military training at some point, saying it would change how people understand hardship and endurance.
Speaking on the African Leadership Podcast with Ken Giami, Musa said military training exposes people to hunger, tiredness and physical stress in ways that are hard to experience elsewhere. He recalled walking for kilometres while hungry, thirsty and exhausted, saying such moments teach people how to endure.
Musa said soldiers face similar sacrifices every day while protecting the country. He referred to the biblical teaching that there is no greater love than laying down one’s life for a friend.
He said this is why he feels hurt when soldiers are criticised or insulted. According to him, soldiers do not want conflict to continue, but many Nigerians fail to understand what they face daily, in different weather and conditions, while staying away from their families.
The comments came during a discussion about Musa’s four-decade military career, which began with his entry into the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1986.
He also said about 70 per cent of Nigeria’s counter-insurgency effort is non-military, while kidnapping has become more of a social problem than a purely security issue.
Musa also discussed the psychological cost of war and called for Nigeria to build its own weapons manufacturing capacity.
The episode, released two days ago, has drawn major online debate, especially over his comments on civilian military training.
