Christopher Musa, minister of defence, says the federal government will establish civilian de-mining teams comprising retired military personnel, other security veterans, and civilians, including youths and medical professionals, to tackle threats of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at the national mine action
stakeholders’ workshop, the minister said the threat posed by anti-personnel
mines and IEDs remains a serious humanitarian and security concern.
He noted that the proposed model, once operational, offers a
practical scenario for knowledge transfer.
“A retired combat engineer working alongside a young
civilian trainee can pass on critical field experience, ensuring sustainability
of expertise,” NAN quoted Musa to have said.
“At the same time, the inclusion of civilians fosters trust
within affected communities, encouraging them to come forward for assistance
and recruitment.”
He pointed out that countries that have successfully cleared
mined territories have combined community engagement with advanced protection
technologies, which, according to him, is “an approach we must adapt to our
local context.”
He also advocated for mine clearance education, noting that
even a simple awareness campaign in a village could mean the difference between
life and death.
“When communities understand the risks and know how to
respond, clearance operations can be significantly improved,” the minister
said.
“Ultimately, our collective effort must restore hope and
normalcy.
“We must envision a Nigeria where children can walk to
school without fear, where farmers can safely return to their land, and where
communities can rebuild without the legal threat of explosive remnants of war.”
The minister stressed that in recent years, non-state
actors, particularly in insurgency-affected areas, have deployed improvised
mines that continue to endanger lives even after active hostilities have
subsided.
He lamented that ordinary citizens, including farmers and
children, face life-threatening dangers.
According to him, the farmer who simply wishes to cultivate
his land can trigger an explosive device.
“Similarly, children walking to school or playing in open
fields unknowingly face grave risks, as highlighted in recent videos. These are
not distant possibilities—they are everyday realities for our citizens,” he
said.
Musa emphasised that in response to these realities, Nigeria
acceded to the Ottawa convention and established the National Mine Action
Centre (NMAC) to coordinate humanitarian demining and relieve the armed forces
of purely civilian-focused clearance responsibilities.
He added that NMAC is mandated to accredit mine-action
operators, monitor and ensure quality in clearance operations, develop standard
operating procedures, and deliver explosive-risk education.
Musa said the workshop provided a platform for stakeholders
to collectively develop a comprehensive draft mine-action bill and define
national implementation measures aligned with the Ottawa convention on the
prohibition of anti-personnel mines.
The centre also supports capacity building for security
institutions in IED clearance and maintains a national data management system
for mine action.
Edwin Faigmane, representative of the United Nations Mines
Action Service (UNMAS), reiterated the UN’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in
achieving Article 5 of the anti-personnel mine-ban convention.
He said the UN, along with the British and Japanese
governments, has been training Nigeria’s police and Nigeria Security and Civil
Defence Corps (NSCDC) to conduct search-and-destroy operations for IEDs.
“Right now, we have trained enough officers, forming two
search teams and two DOD/IED disposal teams from the civil defence and police,”
Faigmane said.
“Once the equipment arrives, we can commence operations.”
Abayomi Adeomi, representative of the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS), said the workshop reflects a strong national
commitment to addressing one of the region’s most pressing humanitarian and
security challenges.
He observed that the West African region is witnessing an
alarming proliferation of explosive hazards, including mines, unexploded
ordnance, and improvised war devices, which continue to kill civilians,
displace communities, disrupt livelihoods, and impede post-conflict recovery
and development.
“The increasing use of improvised war devices, otherwise
known as IEDs, by non-state actors in asymmetric conflicts has significantly
altered the security landscape in our region,” Adeomi said.
“Beyond the immediate impact, explosive hazards have
long-term effects. They contaminate farmland, limit access to infrastructure,
obstruct mining activities, and delay construction efforts.
“Addressing this is not just a security priority—it is a
fundamental development and humanitarian imperative.”
He said ECOWAS is committed to supporting member states,
including Nigeria, to achieve a mine-free region.
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