Minister of Defence, retired Major General Christopher Musa, says Nigeria is gradually recording improvements in its fight against insecurity, while calling for stronger collaboration between government, academia and the private sector to address emerging threats.
Musa spoke on Friday at the University of Ibadan during the commissioning of the CG Musa Security Management Hub, donated to the TETFund Centre of Excellence in Security Management.
He said addressing insecurity required informed policies, credible institutions, technological innovation and a deeper understanding of the human factors driving conflicts.
The minister described universities as important contributors to national security, noting that academic institutions provide the research and intellectual environment needed to examine the causes of insecurity, assess existing responses and develop sustainable solutions.
He also identified local defence production as an important part of strengthening the country’s security capacity.
According to Musa, Nigeria’s reliance on foreign suppliers for weapons and ammunition has sometimes affected the availability of equipment required by security agencies, even when funds are available.
He said the government intended to connect local manufacturers with international producers to strengthen domestic capacity and enable Nigeria to manufacture more of the equipment it needs.
Musa further observed that security threats had become increasingly complex and interconnected, requiring a coordinated response beyond the activities of security agencies.
He said operations in the field had been intensified and that the country was gradually improving its security situation.
The minister urged citizens to contribute to national security by remaining vigilant and reporting suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.
He reiterated the importance of a whole-of-nation approach, stressing that tackling insecurity was a shared responsibility.
Deborah Adeyefa
