Defence Minister Urges Caution on Mandatory Military Service

Defence Minister Urges Caution on Mandatory Military Service

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, has called for a balanced and cautious approach to proposals for mandatory military service for Nigerian youths, stressing that any such policy must align with constitutional provisions, institutional capacity and the country’s socio-economic realities.

Speaking in Abuja on Friday at the presentation of the book Serving the Nation: Exploring Mandatory Military Service for Nigerian Youths, Musa said the debate on structured youth service is timely given Nigeria’s growing youth population and prevailing security challenges.

Represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in the Office of the Minister, Colonel Egbe George Usibe, the Defence Minister noted the need for broad national dialogue on youth development, civic responsibility and national security.

He noted that countries across the world adopt varying models of national service. While some maintain compulsory military service as part of their defence architecture, others operate professional volunteer forces supported by reserve systems and civic service programmes.

Musa cited examples such as Israel, South Korea, Finland and Singapore, which have implemented mandatory service frameworks that instill discipline, patriotism and national readiness among youths.

However, he cautioned that Nigeria’s security challenges cannot be solved by manpower alone, emphasizing that effective governance, strong institutions, economic opportunities and active citizen engagement are essential to long-term stability.

“Any policy on mandatory military service must be balanced, ensuring it aligns with the constitution, institutional capacity, and the socio-economic realities of our youths. We cannot impose measures that the country is not prepared to support,” Musa warned.

He highlighted that Nigeria currently operates a professional volunteer military complemented by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), which promotes national integration and youth engagement across the federation.

While acknowledging the potential benefits of structured national service; including fostering unity, discipline and emergency preparedness, Musa stressed that such a policy must be introduced thoughtfully and backed by adequate planning.

In his remarks, the book’s author, Dr. Mohammed Sani Abubakar, described the publication as the culmination of his doctoral research in Military Studies at the University of Abuja.

The 287-page book, dedicated to retired Lt. Gen. T.Y. Buratai, examines Nigeria’s security context, youth empowerment, leadership in military training and strategies to combat insecurity.

Abubakar said his research revealed that 73.1 per cent of Nigerians support mandatory military service for youths, while 79.7 per cent believe it could help address pressing security challenges.

“Through disciplined service and structured engagement, our youths can be catalysts for national unity, security and sustainable growth,” he said.

Also speaking, the National Coordinator of BRAVEIT, Dr. A.K. Peters, distinguished mandatory military service from the NYSC scheme.

According to him, while NYSC focuses on fostering unity and cross-cultural understanding, compulsory military service emphasizes regimentation, discipline and defence readiness.

He noted that in countries like Israel, young males may serve up to 36 months in structured military environments, preparing them for national defence responsibilities; a model distinct from the NYSC’s community-oriented framework.

The event concluded with calls for sustained national conversation on the role of youths in strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and promoting sustainable development.