General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS),, has recommended combat skills Nigerians to protect themselves in the face of danger amid security challenges in some parts of Nigeria.
The defence Chief stated this as a guest on Thursday August 21st, 2025 on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme where he stated that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) ought to train Nigerian graduates on unarmed combat skills for day-to-day survival against dark-hearted men.
According to him, security is the business of all Nigerians, even as he urged citizens to be situationally aware of their surroundings to fish out strange and suspicious faces.
“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.
“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.
“These are things we should never take for granted because they prepare you for the future. The world we are in now is dangerous. We have individuals who don’t mean people well. They kill for whatever reason”, according to General Musa who likened the skills to driving, swimming and other survival skills.
