The Federal Government on Wednesday announced plans to engage military veterans in securing Nigeria’s ungoverned spaces, a move aimed at boosting national security and reviving economic activities in conflict-prone areas.
This initiative follows the inauguration of an 18-member committee by the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), tasked with reclaiming ungoverned territories and repositioning the Nigerian Legion Corps of Commissionaires and Veterans.
In a statement issued by the Ministry’s Deputy Director of Information, Enderline Chukwu, on behalf of the Director of Information and Public Relations, the committee was inaugurated on Tuesday at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, with the minister represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Richard Pheelangwa.
Speaking at the event, Musa explained that the deployment of veterans would complement ongoing military operations by leveraging their experience in local security and development efforts.
“This initiative reflects a strategic shift from an over-reliance on military offensives to a more inclusive and sustainable approach to security that tackles the socio-economic drivers of insecurity,” he said.
The Defence Minister outlined the committee’s three terms of reference:
- Reposition the veteran community to support national economic development.
- Deploy veterans to secure ungoverned spaces, ensuring effective oversight and development.
- Reposition the Nigerian Legion Corps of Commissionaires, strengthen operational effectiveness, facilitate reintegration, and enhance veterans’ contributions to national security.
Musa stressed that the plan underscores government’s commitment to empowering retired personnel while still harnessing their skills for national stability. “Deliberate integration of veterans into security and development initiatives would enhance local ownership, improve intelligence gathering and foster trust between communities and the state,” he added.
He urged committee members to adopt innovative approaches that would yield actionable recommendations for securing ungoverned spaces, promoting inclusive growth, and sustaining peace.
The committee includes representatives from the Joint Services Department, Nigerian Legion, Defence Headquarters, Defence Intelligence Agency, Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, and the offices of the Ministers of Defence and State for Defence.
This development comes amid growing calls for the integration of military retirees into Nigeria’s security framework to ease the burden on overstretched serving personnel. If fully implemented, the initiative could help reduce criminal activities in ungoverned areas, relieve frontline troops, and strengthen community-based security structures.
