The federal government has inaugurated an 18-member committee tasked with reclaiming Nigeria’s ungoverned spaces for economic viability and repositioning the Nigerian Legion Corps of Commissionaires and Veterans.
The inauguration ceremony, which was performed by Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), took place on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at the Ministry of Defence headquarters, Ship House, Abuja.
Speaking at the event through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Richard Pheelangwa, the minister described the Nigerian Legion as “a critical institution with a proud history of service, sacrifice and patriotism.”
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations in the ministry, Enderline Chukwu, Gen. Musa said the Legion had continued to play important roles in supporting national security and veterans’ affairs, but stressed the need for urgent reforms.
“The evolving socio-economic realities make it imperative to reform and reposition the Nigerian Legion for greater relevance and sustainability,” the minister said.
He noted that the initiative forms part of a broader government commitment to ensure that military veterans are not neglected after service.
“This repositioning is part of our resolve 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 service,” Musa stated.
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.
The minister also advocated a shift in Nigeria’s security strategy, warning against an over-reliance on military offensives alone.
“While military operations remain indispensable, enduring peace and stability can only be achieved by addressing the underlying socio-economic factors that allow insecurity to persist,” he said.
Gen. Musa outlined three key terms of reference for the committee, including repositioning the veteran community to support national economic development, deploying veterans to secure ungoverned spaces and bring them under effective oversight, and repositioning the Nigerian Legion Corps of Commissionaires to strengthen operational effectiveness and facilitate veterans’ reintegration.
He urged committee members to adopt innovative and forward-looking approaches that reflect current realities.
“The deliberate integration of veterans into security and development initiatives will enhance local ownership, improve intelligence gathering and foster trust between communities and the state,” the minister added.
Expressing confidence in the committee’s capacity, Gen. Musa said he was optimistic that it would deliver practical recommendations to support “a holistic national strategy for securing Nigeria’s ungoverned spaces, while promoting inclusive economic growth and sustainable peace.”
The committee comprises representatives 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 officials from the offices of the Minister of Defence and the Minister of State for Defence.
