Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), has called on Nigerians to acquire combat and self-defence skills as a proactive measure against the nation’s growing insecurity.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Musa compared learning martial arts such as Karate, Taekwondo, and Judo to essential survival skills like swimming and driving.
He described such training as a necessary “survival instinct” regardless of whether the country is at war.
“That one should be taken as learning driving, learning how to swim. Whether we have war or not, it is a survival instinct,”
“In Europe, swimming is compulsory. Learning and teaching about security is compulsory because you have to learn what security is”, the CDS said.
Musa also advocated for the incorporation of unarmed combat training into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, suggesting that Nigerian graduates should be equipped with practical skills to protect themselves against criminals.
“That’s what the NYSC is supposed to do, but the NYSC has been watered down to three weeks. I think it is important that we are able to give every Nigerian security awareness at whatever level.
“Self-defence is very important, unarmed combat, swimming, driving. These are critical aspects for human endeavours,” he stated.
The CDS warned that the contemporary world is increasingly dangerous, with individuals who commit acts of violence for personal gain.
He stressed that such skills are essential for preparing citizens to navigate potential threats safely.
Highlighting the collective nature of security, Musa urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, be observant of their surroundings, and report any suspicious individuals to authorities.
“Security is not the responsibility of the military alone. Every Nigerian has a role to play,” he added.
