The Federal Government has announced plans to deploy retired military personnel to help secure Nigeria’s ungoverned spaces, aiming to strengthen national security and revive economic activities in conflict-affected areas.
The initiative was unveiled with the inauguration of an 18-member committee by the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), on Tuesday in Abuja.
A statement from the ministry said the committee is tasked with “Reclaiming Ungoverned Spaces for Economic Viability and the Repositioning of the Nigerian Legion Corps of Commissionaires and Veterans.”
Gen. Musa stated that deploying veterans would complement ongoing military operations by bringing experienced personnel into local security and development efforts, particularly in regions with weak state presence.
The minister outlined the committee’s three key mandates: to reposition the veteran community to support national economic development; to deploy veterans to secure ungoverned spaces and ensure effective oversight; and to reposition the Nigerian Legion Corps of Commissionaires to enhance operational effectiveness and veteran reintegration.
“Deliberate integration of veterans into security and development initiatives would enhance local ownership, improve intelligence gathering and foster trust between communities and the state,” Musa emphasized.
He described the move as a strategic shift from a sole reliance on military offensives to a more inclusive approach that addresses socio-economic drivers of insecurity.
The committee includes representatives from the Ministry of Defence, the Nigerian Legion, Defence Headquarters, the Defence Intelligence Agency, and the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The decision responds to growing calls to integrate military retirees into the national security architecture to reduce pressure on overstretched active personnel. If fully implemented, the government believes it could significantly reduce criminal activities in ungoverned spaces while strengthening community-based security efforts.
