The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has said the Federal Government has no plan to introduce mandatory military service for Nigerian youths.

According to him, the government’s commitment remains a professional volunteer armed forces model, supported by civic national service programmes.

Nigeria has continued to face persistent security challenges across several regions, prompting debates on reforms within the defence sector, including proposals to expand youth participation in national security efforts.

Speaking during the presentation of a publication titled “Serving the Nation: Exploring Mandatory Military Service for Nigerian Youths” in Abuja on Friday, Musa, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties, Col. George Usibe, said the book contributes to ongoing national discussions on service, responsibility and nation-building, but does not reflect current government policy.

He said Nigeria’s security architecture is based on a professional volunteer military complemented by civic national service, particularly the National Youth Service Corps, which continues to promote national integration and youth engagement.

Musa said, “Across the world, approaches to national service vary considerably. While a number of countries maintain mandatory military service as part of their defence architecture, a larger proportion operate professional volunteer armed forces supported by civic national service, reserve systems and community preparedness frameworks.

“Our Armed Forces operate as a professional volunteer military dedicated to defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic, while supporting civil authorities in addressing internal security challenges. This professional force is complemented by civic national service through the National Youth Service Corps, which continues to play a vital role in promoting national integration, exposure and youth engagement across our diverse federation.

“Additional youth-oriented and community-based platforms further contribute to resilience and civic responsibility within our society. It is therefore important to state clearly that there is presently no policy to introduce mandatory military service in Nigeria.”

The minister noted that global experiences show that security challenges such as insurgency and terrorism are not determined solely by manpower models, adding that effective governance, capable institutions and strong citizen–state relations are critical to sustainable security.

While ruling out compulsory military training, the minister said the government remains open to scholarly inquiry and public dialogue on national service, stressing that any future policy consideration must align with constitutional provisions, economic realities and institutional capacity.

“However, the Federal Government recognises that scholarly inquiry and constructive public dialogue remain indispensable to policy evolution. Ideas must be examined, assumptions tested and perspectives shared within the marketplace of national thought. In this regard, the publication being presented today represents a commendable effort to stimulate evidence-based discussion on an issue of strategic relevance.

“Nigeria’s policy direction remains pragmatic and consultative, with emphasis on expanding civic service opportunities, encouraging voluntary participation and strengthening youth skills development in line with national development priorities,” he added.

Musa said, “The broader debate on national service presents perspectives worthy of balanced reflection. Advocates often highlight the potential of structured service to foster unity, instil discipline, deepen civic consciousness and provide a reservoir of trained citizens capable of supporting national emergencies.

“These aspirations resonate strongly within diverse societies seeking cohesion and resilience. At the same time, any consideration of mandatory service must be guided by constitutional principles, fiscal realities, institutional capacity and the socio-economic implications for young citizens.

“The imperative to preserve a highly professional Armed Forces focused on operational readiness, technological advancement, jointness and inter-service cooperation remains central to Nigeria’s defence transformation efforts. Policy choices must therefore carefully balance ambition with feasibility, and national aspiration with institutional readiness.

“Accordingly, Nigeria’s policy outlook may best be described as pragmatic, consultative and forward-looking. The pathway for strengthening national service may lie in innovative hybrid approaches that expand civic service opportunities, encourage voluntary reserve participation, enhance youth skills acquisition and build community resilience. Such approaches align with the broader objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises human capital development, national unity and institutional strengthening as foundations for sustainable security and prosperity.”

Speaking at the event, the author of the book, Mohammed Abubakar, said countries such as Finland, Israel, South Korea and Singapore are examples where mandatory military service has been used to strengthen national security.

According to him, a survey conducted during the research showed that 73.1 per cent of respondents supported mandatory military service, while 79.7 per cent believed it could help address insecurity.

Abubakar also stressed the need for increased manpower, technology and improved governance to tackle insecurity, noting that without accountability and strong institutions, security efforts would be undermined. (The PUNCH)

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