Nigeria has called for stronger and more enduring international partnerships to confront its evolving security threats, warning that the country’s security challenges have implications beyond its borders.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), made the call at a high-level side event on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The event, themed “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.
Musa said the changing nature of modern security threats requires collective action, stressing that Nigeria cannot address the challenges alone.
He said sustainable security must go beyond military operations to include resilient communities, effective institutions, inclusive development and good governance.
The Minister outlined measures being implemented by the Federal Government, 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 also highlighted ongoing efforts towards the establishment of state police and dedicated forest guards to strengthen security in rural and border communities.
According to him, a presidential approval for a unified intelligence and reconnaissance programme is also being implemented to eliminate operational silos, improve situational awareness and strengthen coordination among government agencies.
Musa said Nigeria is equally working to strengthen domestic defence production through the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, DICON, in a bid to reduce dependence on external sources of military equipment.
He added that the integration of advanced technologies, including drones for real-time surveillance and improvised explosive device detection, as well as the development of a national criminal database, would strengthen the country’s security architecture.
The discussions also featured a panel discussion which was focused on regional security, with former Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force, Major General A.K. Ibrahim (Rtd), calling for community-based border security solutions, implementation of the Office of the National Security Adviser’s Border Management Strategy and the revitalisation of the MNJTF.
He also advocated stronger efforts to disrupt terrorist taxation and financial networks.
The Special Adviser to the Minister on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka Famadewa (Rtd), called for intelligence fusion, integrated response capabilities and systems that protect citizens who report emerging threats.
The panel further examined the economic and technological dimensions of national security.
Former CBN Deputy Governor, Dr Kingsley Obiora, said economic stability remains a critical pillar of national security and proposed designated economic zones to support business recovery in conflict-affected areas.
Cybersecurity expert Omosigho Ozo-Eson warned against excessive dependence on foreign artificial intelligence systems and called for stronger protection of Nigeria’s critical national infrastructure and the development of indigenous cyber-defence capabilities.
Professor Mvemba Phezo Dizolele of Johns Hopkins University, meanwhile, urged African countries to develop security solutions suited to their own circumstances rather than relying on external templates.
However, the Defence Minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to tackling terrorism and banditry, while stressing the importance of defence cooperation with international partners, including the United States.
He said regional security mechanisms such as the MNJTF, which receive support from international partners including the European Union, must increasingly be financed and sustained by African countries to strengthen regional ownership.
The Minister also highlighted government efforts to improve legal frameworks, protect vulnerable health workers operating in high-risk areas and create a more stable environment for investment.
He said the objective of the international engagement should be to move beyond discussions to clearly defined areas of cooperation, responsibilities and practical next steps.
The Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Mrs Bosede Olaniyi, had earlier called for robust engagement at the event, saying discussions should translate into meaningful results for national development.