Federal Government Inaugurates 18-man Panel To Reclaim Ungoverned Spaces

The Federal Government has inaugurated an 18-man committee with a mandate to find ways to reclaim all ungoverned spaces for economic viability and reposition the Nigerian Legion Corps of Commissionaires and Veterans.

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), while inaugurating the committee on Tuesday, described Nigeria Legion as a critical 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, and that evolving socio-economic realities makes it imperative to reform and reposition the corps for greater relevance and sustainability.

The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Richard Pheelangwa, said the move was part of renewed effort to strengthen veterans’ welfare and ensure active participation of military veterans in strengthening national security.

The Minister, in a statement by the Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, Enderline Chukwu, said the repositioning was part of a broader government commitment to ensure that veterans who have served the nation with honour were not left behind but empowered to live dignified and productive lives after service.

He described the initiative as a deliberate and strategic policy intervention designed to address long-standing structural and operational challenges that have limited the contribution of the defence community to national development.

Musa advocated for a strategic shift from an over-reliance on military offensive to a more comprehensive, inclusive and sustainable approach to national security, adding that while military operations remain indispensable, enduring peace and stability can only be achieved by addressing the underlying socio-economic factors that enable insecurity to persist.

The Minister reeled out the three terms of reference of the committee to include: to reposition the veteran community to support national economic development, to deploy veterans to secure Ungoverned Spaces and ensure that the areas are brought under effective oversight and development and lastly to reposition the Nigerian Legion Corps of Commissionaires, 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. “Deliberate integration of veterans into security and development initiatives would enhance local ownership, improve intelligence gathering and foster trust between communities and the state,” he added.

He expressed optimism that the committee will submit actionable recommendations that will support a holistic national strategy for securing Nigeria’s Ungoverned Spaces while promoting inclusive economic growth and sustainable peace.

The membership of the committee were drawn from the Joint Services Department of the ministry, Nigeria Legion, Defence headquarters, Defence Intelligence Agency, Nigeria Army, Nigeria Navy, Nigeria Air Force as well as representatives from Offices of the Minister of Defence and Minister of State for Defence.