Buratai Advocates Police-Led Internal Security, Reduced Military Involvement

A former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant GeneralTukur Buratai (rtd), has called for an expanded and well-equipped NigeriaPolice Force that will take full responsibility for internal security and reduce the country’sreliance on the military for routine policing duties. Buratai made the observation at the NationalSymposium/Lecture Series held in commemoration of the 2026 Armed ForcesCelebration and Remembrance Day (AFCRD) in Abuja, where he delivered a lecturetitled ‘Securing Nigeria’s Future: The Armed Forces and National Development.’ According to him, the police should be professionalisedunder a funded, multi-year plan to achieve a strength of around 1.5 millionofficers, and ensured they can independently manage internal securityresponsibilities. Buratai also called for comprehensive reforms in Nigeria’ssecurity and governance architecture to safeguard the nation’s long-termsecurity and stability. He advocated the repositioning of the armed forces as acatalyst for national development and a strategic focus on high-intensitycombat and external defence. The former ambassador to Benin Republic stressed five keypolicy recommendations to translate Nigeria’s defence vision into actionableoutcomes and proposed the establishment of a National Defence Innovation Fund(NDIF), leveraging public-private partnerships to finance research anddevelopment in critical dual-use technologies such as cyber defence, unmannedaerial systems, satellite communications, and renewable energy solutions forforward operating bases. He explained that such a framework would ensure defencespending drives innovation within the civilian technology sector. On human capital development, Buratai called for a revisedNational Service and Veterans’ Framework, transforming the National YouthService Corps (NYSC) into a mandatory national service scheme with bothmilitary and civic tracks to promote skill acquisition, national cohesion, andpost-service employment opportunities. He further called for the passage of a Veterans’ Rights andTransition Act to guarantee timely pensions, healthcare access, skillsconversion programmes, and legal protections for retired personnel. The ex-COAS also recommended institutionalising permanentcivil-military cooperation (CIMIC) directorates within the Ministry of Defenceand service headquarters to ensure structured collaboration with civilianministries in post-conflict development, while preventing mission creep by themilitary. On regional security, Buratai emphasised the need forstrengthened multilateral cooperation through frameworks such as theMultinational Joint Task Force and the Gulf of Guinea maritime securityarchitecture. He noted that collective action remains critical inaddressing transnational threats and fostering stability across the region. He concluded that a balanced approach to defence reform,internal security restructuring, and regional cooperation would allow Nigeriato optimise its resources, strengthen national unity, and secure a moreprosperous future. Earlier, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa(rtd), reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building aprofessional and resilient armed forces capable of safeguarding Nigeria’ssovereignty and supporting national development. He highlighted the ministry’s ongoing focus on troopwelfare, enhanced training, doctrinal refinement, and expansion of indigenousdefence production to ensure sustainable long-term security capabilities. Musa also noted that current policy and legislative reformsare revitalising local defence industries, encouraging private sectorparticipation, creating jobs, and deepening local content while reducingdependence on foreign suppliers.

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