By SUMAILA OGBAJE

Former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has called for far-reaching reforms in Nigeria’s security and governance architecture to secure the nation’s security future.

Buratai made the call in a lecture titled “Securing Nigeria’s Future: The Armed Forces and National Development,” delivered at the National Symposium/Lecture Series held in commemoration of the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day (AFCRD) on Monday in Abuja.

He urged the country to reposition the armed forces as a catalyst for national development and long-term stability.

Buratai, also a former Nigeria Ambassador to Benin Republic, proposed five key policy recommendations aimed at translating Nigeria’s defence vision into actionable outcomes.

He advocated accelerated professionalisation and specialisation of the militsry, stressing the need for a strategic refocus on high-intensity combat and external defence.

He added that internal security responsibilities should increasingly be assumed by a significantly expanded and better-equipped Nigeria Police Force.

According to him, the police should be professionalised under a funded, multi-year plan to attain a strength of about 1.5 million officers, thereby dismantling the current dependency on the military for routine internal security duties.

Buratai also proposed the establishment of a National Defence Innovation Fund (NDIF) through public-private partnerships to finance research and development in critical dual-use technologies.

This, according to him, include cyber defence, unmanned aerial systems, satellite communications and renewable energy solutions for forward operating bases.

He said such a framework would ensure that defence spending stimulates innovation within the civilian technology sector.

On human capital development, the former army chief called for a revised National Service and Veterans’ Framework, including reforming the National Youth Service Corps into a mandatory National Service Scheme with both military and civic tracks to promote skill acquisition and national cohesion.

He further urged the passage of a Veterans’ Rights and Transition Act to guarantee timely pensions, healthcare access, skill conversion programmes and legal protections for retired personnel.

Buratai also recommended the institutionalisation of permanent Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) directorates within the Ministry of Defence and service headquarters to ensure structured collaboration with civilian ministries in post-conflict development, while preventing mission creep by the military.

On regional security, Buratai stressed the need to deepen cooperation through multilateral frameworks such as the Multinational Joint Task Force and the Gulf of Guinea maritime security architecture, noting that collective action remained critical to addressing transnational threats and fostering regional stability.

He said a balanced approach to defence reform, internal security restructuring and regional cooperation would enable Nigeria to optimise its resources, strengthen national unity and secure a more prosperous future.

Earlier, the Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building a capable, professional and resilient Armed Forces to safeguard Nigeria’s sovereignty and support national development.

Musa said the Ministry of Defence, under the current administration, was prioritising troop welfare, enhanced training, doctrinal refinement and the expansion of indigenous defence production to ensure sustainable long-term security capabilities.

According to him, ongoing policy and legislative reforms are revitalising local defence industries, encouraging private sector participation, creating jobs and deepening local content while reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that another former army chief, retired Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, retired AVM EA Wonah and retired Rear Adm. Solomon Agada, served as discussants while retired Lt.-Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, moderated the panel discussion.

In his intervention, Lt.-Gen. Yahaya said the appointment of Gen. Musa as Defence minister would help drive the needed reforms in the armed forces.

He also supported the call for proper integration and utilisation of the veterans harness their experiences in addressing the national security challenges. (NAN)