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Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has inaugurated an 18-member committee on “Reclaiming Ungoverned Spaces for Economic Viability and the Repositioning of the Nigerian Legion Corps of Commissionaires and Veterans,” as part of renewed efforts to strengthen veterans’ welfare and ensure the active participation of military veterans in enhancing national security.

The inauguration ceremony took place on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at the Ministry of Defence headquarters, Ship House, Abuja. The minister, who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Richard Pheelangwa, described the Nigerian Legion as a critical national institution with a proud history of service, sacrifice, and patriotism. He noted that the Legion has continued to play important roles in supporting national security and veterans’ affairs, stressing that evolving socio-economic realities make it imperative to reform and reposition the corps for greater relevance and sustainability.

According to the minister, the repositioning of the Nigerian Legion forms part of a broader government commitment to ensure that veterans who have served the nation with honour are not left behind but are empowered to live dignified and productive lives after active service. He described the initiative as a deliberate and strategic policy intervention aimed at addressing long-standing structural and operational challenges that have limited the contribution of the defence community to national development.

General Musa advocated a strategic shift from an over-reliance on military offensives to a more comprehensive, inclusive, and sustainable approach to national security. While acknowledging that military operations remain indispensable, he emphasized that enduring peace and stability can only be achieved by addressing the underlying socio-economic factors that allow insecurity to persist across different parts of the country.

The minister outlined the three key terms of reference guiding the committee’s work, which include repositioning the veteran community to support national economic development, deploying veterans to secure ungoverned spaces and ensure that such areas are brought under effective oversight and development, and repositioning the Nigerian Legion Corps of Commissionaires to strengthen operational effectiveness, facilitate veterans’ reintegration, and promote their contribution to national security.

He urged members of the committee to adopt innovative, practical, and forward-looking approaches that reflect contemporary realities, noting that the deliberate integration of veterans into security and development initiatives would enhance local ownership, improve intelligence gathering, and foster trust between communities and the state. The minister expressed optimism that the committee would submit actionable recommendations capable of supporting a holistic national strategy for securing Nigeria’s ungoverned spaces while promoting inclusive economic growth and sustainable peace.

Membership of the committee was drawn from the Joint Services Department of the Ministry of Defence, the Nigerian Legion, Defence Headquarters, the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Air Force, as well as representatives from the offices of the Honourable Minister of Defence and the Honourable Minister of State for Defence.