The Federal Government has unveiled a strategic plan to deploy retired military personnel to help secure Nigeria’s ungoverned spaces, as part of a broader effort to strengthen national security and stimulate economic activities in conflict-affected areas.
The initiative was announced following 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.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Ministry of Defence’s Deputy Director of Information, Enderline Chukwu, on behalf of the Director of Information and Public Relations, the committee was inaugurated on Tuesday at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja. The minister was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Richard Pheelangwa.
Speaking during the inauguration, General Musa explained that deploying veterans to ungoverned areas would complement ongoing military operations by injecting experienced and disciplined personnel into local security and development efforts—particularly in regions where government presence remains weak.
He described the initiative as a strategic shift from an over-reliance on kinetic military operations to a more inclusive and sustainable security approach that addresses the socio-economic drivers of insecurity.
“The inauguration of this 18-member committee on Reclaiming Ungoverned Spaces for Economic Viability and the Repositioning of the Nigerian Legion Corps of Commissionaires and Veterans underscores our renewed commitment to strengthening veterans’ welfare while ensuring their active participation in enhancing national security,” Musa said.
The minister outlined three key terms of reference for the committee:
To reposition the veteran community in support of national economic development.
To deploy veterans to secure ungoverned spaces and ensure such areas are brought under effective oversight and development.
To reposition the Nigerian Legion Corps of Commissionaires by strengthening operational effectiveness, facilitating veterans’ reintegration, and enhancing their contribution to national security.
Musa stressed that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that military personnel who served the nation with honour are empowered to lead productive lives after retirement, while continuing to contribute to national stability.
He noted that the deliberate integration of veterans into security and development initiatives would enhance local ownership, improve intelligence gathering, and foster greater trust between communities and the state.
The minister further urged committee members to adopt innovative, forward-looking approaches capable of producing practical and actionable recommendations that support a holistic strategy for securing ungoverned spaces, promoting inclusive economic growth, and sustaining peace.
Members of the committee were drawn from the Joint Services Department of the Ministry of Defence, the Nigerian Legion, Defence Headquarters, the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as the offices of the Minister of Defence and the Minister of State for Defence.
In recent years, there have been increasing calls for the integration of military retirees into Nigeria’s security architecture, particularly as a means of reducing pressure on overstretched serving personnel deployed across multiple theatres nationwide.
With this latest move by the Defence Minister, stakeholders believe that—if fully implemented—the initiative could significantly reduce criminal activities in ungoverned spaces, ease the operational burden on frontline troops, and strengthen community-based security efforts across the country.
