CDS General Christopher Musa has urged Nigerians to learn basic combat and self-defence skills for survival.
He suggested NYSC training should include unarmed combat, driving, swimming, and security awareness.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has advised Nigerians to acquire basic combat and self-defence skills, describing them as vital survival tools in an increasingly insecure world.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, General Musa compared self-defence training to everyday life skills like driving and swimming, noting that it should no longer be treated as optional.
According to him, just as swimming is a compulsory skill in parts of Europe, Nigerians must begin to view security awareness and combat readiness as essential for daily survival.
The defence chief also suggested that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) should be repositioned to provide young graduates with such training. He argued that the original vision of the NYSC included preparing corps members for life skills, which should cover unarmed combat, swimming, driving, and basic security knowledge. However, he lamented that the program has been reduced to a three-week orientation exercise, far below its intended purpose.
General Musa further warned that the global environment has become more dangerous, with individuals intent on causing harm. This, he said, makes self-defence, vigilance, and situational awareness crucial.
He urged citizens to prioritize personal security and remain alert to suspicious activities around them, stressing that collective responsibility was key to building safer communities.
“Security is not the job of security agencies alone,” he noted. “Every individual must be prepared for the unexpected, and self-defence provides that readiness.”
