Federal Government has announced plans to deploy military veterans to secure Nigeria’s ungoverned spaces, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen national security and stimulate economic activities in conflict-affected areas.
The initiative followed the inauguration of an 18-member committee by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), tasked with reclaiming ungoverned spaces for economic viability and repositioning the Nigerian Legion Corps of Commissionaires and Veterans.
The committee was inaugurated on Tuesday at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Abuja, with the minister represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Richard Pheelangwa, according to a statement issued by the Ministry’s Deputy Director of Information, Enderline Chukwu.
Speaking at the event, Musa said deploying veterans would complement ongoing military operations, especially in areas with weak state presence, by leveraging their experience for local security and development efforts.
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He described the move as a shift from heavy reliance on military offensives to a more inclusive and sustainable security approach that addresses the socio-economic drivers of insecurity.
The committee’s mandate includes reintegrating veterans into national economic development, deploying them to secure ungoverned areas, and strengthening the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Legion.
Members were drawn from the Defence Headquarters, Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force, Defence Intelligence Agency, Nigerian Legion, and offices of the Ministers of Defence and State for Defence.
The initiative aligns with growing calls to integrate military retirees into Nigeria’s security architecture, a move expected to ease pressure on frontline troops, improve intelligence gathering, and strengthen community-based security.
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