The Federal Government has dismissed suggestions that it is considering the introduction of compulsory military service for Nigerian youths, saying the country’s armed forces will continue to operate as a professional volunteer military.
Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), made the clarification on Friday, February 20, during the presentation of a publication titled “Serving the Nation: Exploring Mandatory Military Service for Nigerian Youths.”
Musa, who was represented by Col. George Usibe, said the government remained committed to its current model of a professional volunteer force, supported by civic national service programmes like the National Youth Service Corps.
“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,” Musa said.
“It is therefore important to state clearly that there is presently no policy to introduce mandatory military service in Nigeria,” he added.
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The minister acknowledged that while some countries around the world maintain compulsory military service, the majority rely on professional volunteer forces complemented by civic engagement, reserve systems, and community preparedness frameworks.
He stressed that a country’s security is not determined by manpower models alone but by the quality of its governance, the strength of its institutions, and the relationship between citizens and the state.
Musa said the government remained open to scholarly discussion and public dialogue on national service but emphasised that any future policy direction would have to align with constitutional provisions, economic realities, and institutional capacity.
He outlined the government’s current approach, which focuses on expanding civic service opportunities, encouraging voluntary participation in defence and security, and strengthening skills development for young Nigerians in line with national development priorities.
The book’s author, Mohammed Abubakar, offered a different perspective, highlighting global examples from countries like Finland, Israel, South Korea, and Singapore, where mandatory military service has been used to bolster national security.
Abubakar cited surveys conducted during his research showing that 73.1 per cent of respondents supported compulsory military service, while 79.7 per cent believed it could help address Nigeria’s security challenges.
He however acknowledged that weak institutions and a lack of accountability could undermine any security initiative, stressing the need for improved governance, advanced technology, and increased manpower to tackle insecurity effectively.