The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has advised Nigerians to acquire combat skills as part of survival measures in the face of rising insecurity across the country.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, General Musa compared self-defence training in martial arts such as Karate, Taekwondo, and Judo to learning basic life skills like swimming and driving.
“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 defence chief explained.
He further suggested that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) should integrate unarmed combat training into its programme for graduates, stressing that it would equip young Nigerians with the skills needed to defend themselves in everyday situations.
“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 said.
General Musa added that these skills are essential in today’s dangerous world where “individuals who don’t mean people well” pose threats to communities.
He also emphasised that security remains a shared responsibility, urging Nigerians to stay vigilant, remain conscious of their environment, and quickly identify suspicious persons or movements around them.
