The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, rtd, has proposed that every Nigerian citizen should undergo military training.
Musa made the call while speaking on the African Leadership Podcast with Ken Giami, stating that the experience of hunger, exhaustion and physical strain that comes with military training gives people a perspective on life they cannot get anywhere else.
He was explaining why he believes ordinary citizens should have a better understanding of the work carried out by members of the Armed Forces.
According to him, the experience would give Nigerians a different perspective about life and the responsibilities associated with protecting the country.
The former Chief of Defence Staff noted that citizens who go through such training would understand what it means to continue moving even when physically exhausted, hungry or deprived of normal comfort.
“Every Nigerian should be able to go through military training. I can tell you for free, it will give you a different perspective about life. You will now understand what it means to stay hungry, what it means to walk in days without sleep.
“It will show you what endurance means, when you walk kilometers and you are tired but you still need to keep on going. You have not eaten, you have not taken one because of the nature of the thing and because you are doing it to protect.
“Just like what the Bible says that there’s no greater friend than he who will give his life for his friend.
“And that’s exactly what the military men are doing, putting their lives at stake for their country to move around. And so that’s why sometimes it’s very painful when you see people insulting the military and telling them they don’t need it or we don’t want this to end. Nobody’s dying now, and they don’t want it to end,” he said.
Defence Minister proposes compulsory military training for Nigerians