The Federal Government has dismissed reports that it’s planning to introduce mandatory military service for youths.
Speaking during the presentation of a publication titled: ‘Serving the Nation: Exploring Mandatory Military Service for Nigerian Youths’ in Abuja on Friday, the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), said there was no truth to the claim. He stated that the government remains committed to a professional volunteer armed forces supported by civic national service programmes.
The minister, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties, Col. George Usibe, said the country’s security architecture is based on a professional volunteer military complemented by civic national service, particularly the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC). “It is therefore important to state clearly that there is presently no policy to introduce mandatory military service in Nigeria”, he stated.
The Minister noted that global experience shows that security challenges, such as insurgency and terrorism, are not determined solely by manpower. He added that effective governance, capable institutions, and strong citizen–state relations are critical to sustainable security.
While ruling out compulsory military training, Musa said the government remained 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.
