By Kingsley Omonobi
NEW YORK — Nigeria has called for stronger international partnerships and a whole-of-society approach to tackling its evolving security challenges and those of the wider Sahel region.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), made the call on Thursday at a high-level side event organised by the Ministry of Defence on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Week in New York.
The event, themed, “Confronting Nigeria’s Multi-dimensional 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 Nigeria’s security challenges had national, regional and global implications, stressing that no country could address modern security threats in isolation.
“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,” he said.
The minister added that sustainable security required resilient communities, effective institutions, inclusive development and good governance.
Musa outlined measures being implemented under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, 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 listed ongoing efforts toward establishing state police and dedicated forest guard arrangements to improve security in rural and border communities.
According to him, the government is also implementing presidential approval for a unified intelligence and reconnaissance programme aimed at eliminating operational silos, improving situational awareness and strengthening interoperability among Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
The minister highlighted efforts to strengthen domestic defence production through support for the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), saying the initiative would enhance self-reliance and reduce dependence on foreign sources of military equipment.
He also cited the deployment of advanced technologies, including drones for real-time surveillance and Improvised Explosive Device detection, as well as the development of a comprehensive national criminal database.
A statement by Leah Katung Babatunde, Special Adviser on Media to the minister, said the event featured a panel discussion moderated by Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to the President and former Minister of External Affairs.
Gambari recalled Nigeria’s concentric-circles foreign policy and stressed the need for Africa to become an active contributor to global frameworks, particularly in the area of artificial intelligence.
On homeland security and early warning, Major General Adeyinka T. Famadewa (Rtd), Special Adviser on Homeland Security, advocated intelligence fusion, integrated response capabilities and systems that protect citizens who report security threats.
Former Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Major General A.K. Ibrahim (Rtd), called for community-based border security solutions, implementation of the Office of the National Security Adviser’s Border Management Strategy and revitalisation of the MNJTF.
He also called for stronger action against terrorist taxation and financial networks.
Economic security was also discussed, with former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Kingsley Obiora, stressing that economic stability was a core pillar of national security.
Obiora proposed the establishment of designated economic zones, drawing from Colombia’s experience, to support business recovery in conflict-affected areas.
Prof. Mvemba Phezo Dizolele of Johns Hopkins University cautioned against adopting external security templates without considering local realities, urging African countries to develop solutions suited to their specific contexts.
Cybersecurity expert Omosigho Ozo-Eson warned against excessive reliance on foreign artificial intelligence systems and called for stronger protection of critical national infrastructure and the development of indigenous cyber-defence capabilities.
In his closing remarks, Musa reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to tackling terrorism and banditry while commending defence cooperation with international partners, including the United States.
He said while regional mechanisms such as the MNJTF had received support from international partners including the European Union, African member states needed to increasingly finance and sustain their own security frameworks to strengthen regional ownership.
The minister also highlighted efforts to strengthen legal frameworks, protect health workers operating 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 capable of translating discussions into meaningful outcomes for national development.
