Nigeria's Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, has emphasized the need for stronger international partnerships to address the country's security challenges. Speaking on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Musa noted that lasting peace and stability could not be achieved through military action alone. He stressed that Nigeria's security challenges have become too interconnected for any single institution or country to tackle alone.
Musa explained that Nigeria's security challenges are national in their impact, regional in their consequences, and increasingly international in their implications. He called for a strategy that would involve government, communities, international partners, and the private sector. According to him, the government is seeking practical partnerships with the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, bilateral partners, civil society, researchers, and the private sector to strengthen its security capabilities and institutions.
The Minister of Defence highlighted that while military and other security operations remain essential to protecting Nigeria's citizens and territorial integrity, a more comprehensive approach is needed. He mentioned that the government is pursuing measures, including the recruitment of an additional 22,000 personnel, restructuring of the Army divisions, stronger subnational security arrangements, and proposals for state police and forest guards. These efforts aim to enhance Nigeria's security capabilities and address the country's emerging security threats.
In a separate interview, retired Maj.-Gen. Adeyinka Famadewa, Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, provided further insights into Nigeria's security strategy. He stated that the country is shifting from a capability-driven to a threat-driven security strategy. This approach involves identifying major threats, determining existing capability gaps, and prioritizing resources to address them. Famadewa emphasized that defense is a costly venture, and prioritization is essential.
Famadewa explained that the threat-driven security strategy would involve developing a five-year framework for acquiring critical capabilities while strengthening Nigeria's domestic defense-production capacity. The government aims to review previous assumptions about security and develop new approaches to ensure the safety of Nigerians. This includes bringing out new methods to achieve the objective of ensuring that every Nigerian is safe and Nigeria prospers.
The Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security reiterated that the government cannot guarantee national security alone. He urged citizens to remain vigilant and support security agencies with useful information. This collaborative approach is essential in addressing Nigeria's security challenges and ensuring the country's prosperity. By working together, the government and citizens can develop effective solutions to the country's security threats.
The call for stronger international partnerships and a more comprehensive approach to security reflects the complexity of Nigeria's security challenges. The country's experience with terrorism, banditry, oil theft, cybercrime, and other emerging threats requires a multifaceted response. By engaging with international partners, civil society, and the private sector, Nigeria aims to develop a more effective and sustainable security strategy that addresses the root causes of insecurity and promotes lasting peace and stability.
Key points
- Nigeria's Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, calls for stronger international partnerships to tackle security threats.
- The country is shifting from a capability-driven to a threat-driven security strategy.
- The government aims to develop a more comprehensive approach to security, involving government, communities, international partners, and the private sector.
