By Odita Sunday
Nigeria has called for stronger international partnerships and a whole-of-society approach to tackle terrorism, banditry and other emerging security threats confronting the country and the wider Sahel region.
The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), made the call during a high-level discussion organised by the Ministry of Defence on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week in New York.
The event, titled, “Confronting Nigeria’s Multidimensional Security Challenges: A Whole-of-Society and Partnership-Based Approach,” brought together diplomats, security practitioners and representatives of the United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, on Thursday, Musa said Nigeria’s security challenges had national, regional and global implications.
The minister said the complexity of modern security threats made collective action and sustained international cooperation necessary.
“Our recognition that we cannot address these challenges alone is not a statement of dependence; rather, it is an acknowledgement of the multidimensional character of modern security threats and the importance of collective action,” Musa stated.
“Sustainable security requires resilient communities, effective institutions, inclusive development, and good governance.”
Musa disclosed that the Federal Government was taking several measures to strengthen the country’s security architecture, including the recruitment of an additional 22,000 personnel into the Armed Forces and the expansion and reorganisation of the Nigerian Army’s divisional structure.
He said the government was also taking steps towards establishing state police and dedicated forest guard arrangements to secure rural and border communities.
The minister further disclosed that presidential approval had been secured for a unified intelligence and reconnaissance programme designed to eliminate operational silos, improve situational awareness and enhance interoperability among Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
According to him, the government is also strengthening domestic defence production through support for the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria to improve self-reliance and reduce dependence on foreign sources of arms and military equipment.
Musa said advanced technological assets, including drones for real-time surveillance and Improvised Explosive Device detection, were being integrated into the country’s security operations.
He also highlighted the rollout of a comprehensive national criminal database as part of efforts to improve national security.
The discussion, which was moderated by a former Chief of Staff to the President and former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, also examined homeland security, border management, economic security, cybersecurity and Africa-specific approaches to emerging threats.
Gambari recalled Nigeria’s concentric-circles foreign policy and called for stronger African participation in shaping global frameworks, particularly in the area of Artificial Intelligence.
The Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Maj. Gen. Adeyinka Famadewa (retd.), advocated intelligence fusion, integrated response capabilities and protection systems for citizens who report emerging threats.
A former Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force, Maj. Gen. A.K. Ibrahim (retd.), called for community-based border solutions, implementation of the Office of the National Security Adviser’s Border Management Strategy and the revitalisation of the MNJTF.
He also advocated aggressive action against terrorist taxation and financial networks.
A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Kingsley Obiora, said economic stability was a key pillar of national security.
He proposed designated economic zones, drawing from Colombia’s experience, to stimulate business recovery in conflict-affected areas.
Prof. Mvemba Phezo Dizolele of Johns Hopkins University cautioned African countries against relying on external templates for addressing their security challenges.
He urged African nations to develop solutions suited to their local realities and designed by and for their populations.
Similarly, cybersecurity expert, Omosigho Ozo-Eson, warned against excessive reliance on foreign Artificial Intelligence systems.
He stressed the need to protect Critical National Infrastructure and develop indigenous cyber defence capabilities.
Musa, in his closing remarks, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to defeating terrorism and banditry and commended defence cooperation with international partners, including the United States.
He, however, said African countries must increasingly finance and sustain regional security mechanisms such as the MNJTF, despite support from foreign partners including the European Union.
According to him, greater African financing would strengthen regional ownership of the continent’s security frameworks.
The minister also highlighted efforts by the government to improve legal frameworks, protect vulnerable health workers in high-risk areas and create a stable business environment capable of attracting investment.
“Our objective should be straightforward,” Musa said.
“We should not merely reaffirm our understanding of the challenges; we should seek to identify concrete areas of cooperation, clear responsibilities, and practical next steps.”
Earlier, the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Bosede Olaniyi, welcomed participants and called for robust engagement that would translate into meaningful results for national development.
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