The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has said that Nigeria’s security challenges are too complex to be handled by any single service or institution, stressing the need for sustained collaboration among security agencies.
Musa made the statement on Monday at the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference 2025, held at Nebo Hall, Abalti Barracks, Lagos State. He noted that although significant progress has been made in degrading the capabilities of terrorists, bandits and other criminal groups, lasting success depends on joint and coordinated efforts.
According to the minister, recent gains recorded across different theatres of operation reflect the bravery of Nigerian troops, improved planning and execution, as well as the effectiveness of multi-agency and joint operations.
“No single service, institution or individual can address today’s security challenges alone,” Musa said. “Sustainable success can only be achieved through unity of effort, intelligence sharing, coordinated planning and close collaboration among all security agencies. At the same time, we must not lose sight of the human dimension of military service.”
He described the annual conference as a crucial platform for the Nigerian Army to assess its operational readiness, professionalism and strategic direction, particularly in the face of evolving threats such as terrorism, insurgency, banditry and transnational crime.
Musa added that security remains a central pillar of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, assuring that the Ministry of Defence would continue to provide strategic direction, policy support and capability development to keep the Armed Forces professional, responsive and future-ready.
The defence minister also paid tribute to fallen officers and soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty, while acknowledging wounded personnel and their families, whose sacrifices, he said, must be honoured through sustained welfare and medical support.
He commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, for his leadership and operational experience, urging the military to remain innovative, proactive and resolute in evolving new strategies to decisively defeat threats to national security.
