The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has advised Nigerians to acquire combat and self-defence skills in response to rising insecurity across the country.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, the defence chief likened martial arts training—such as Karate, Taekwondo, and Judo—to essential survival 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,” Musa said. He added that in many parts of the world, swimming is mandatory, and the same approach should apply to security awareness in Nigeria.
Musa further recommended that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) integrate unarmed combat training into its programme to prepare graduates for real-world challenges. “That’s what the NYSC is supposed to do, but the NYSC has been watered down to three weeks,” he noted.
Highlighting the growing dangers in society, Musa stressed that security is a collective responsibility and urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and alert to suspicious individuals and activities.
“Self-defence is very important. Unarmed combat, swimming, driving—these are critical aspects for human survival. We should never take them for granted because they prepare you for the future,” he added.
