By Laolu Elijah
IBADAN — THE Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, yesterday, disclosed that 500 million small arms and light weapons circulating in West Africa end up in Nigeria.
He disclosed this during the second Distinguished Personality Lecture hosted by the TETFund Centre of Excellence in Security Management, TECESM, held at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan.
In his lecture titled ‘Global Fragility and Security Management in Nigeria,’ the CDS stressed the need for strengthening the security architecture as a result of what he described as increasing global fragility.
General Musa highlighted various ways Nigeria’s security is being undermined by external crises and instability, including the proliferation of arms, economic shocks, transnational terrorism, cyber threats, and environmental stressors.
His words: “Nigeria’s vulnerabilities are not just internal, they’re being shaped by the global fragility matrix. We must respond with resilience, innovation, and collective will. No nation is an island in today’s security landscape.”
He expressed worry over the rising influence of disinformation and online radicalisation, noting that digital platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp are now being weaponised to spread ethnic hatred and undermine public trust.
General Musa explained that Nigeria faced hybrid threats beyond the battlefield, noting “the emergence of groups like IPOB illustrates how digital narratives can fuel division and instability.”
Solution to the challenges he highlighted, he includes a series of policy actions which include a multi-agency approach to security management, as outlined in Nigeria’s National Defence Policy; enhanced border security, with the use of fencing, surveillance technology, and better-trained personnel.
“Security is no longer just about guns and boots. It’s about sustainable development, responsive governance, and empowered communities”, he stated.
The Chairman of the occasion, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd), who was represented by Lt. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun (retd), commended TECESM for fostering critical conversations on national security, describing the lecture as “timely and vital” given Nigeria’s ongoing battles with insurgency, banditry, and organised crime.
Buratai said: “Security management in Nigeria must evolve. This requires governance reforms, capacity building, and community-based intelligence systems to strengthen early warning mechanisms and deter threats before they escalate.”
On his part, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, in his remarks, said: “Today’s (yesterday) discussion bridges the gap between academic insight and practical security leadership. This is how we develop evidence-based solutions to Nigeria’s most pressing challenges.”
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