…Calls for Unity, Stronger Institutions to Combat Global Fragility
By Kingsley Omonobi
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has warned that terrorism, climate change, cyber threats, and geopolitical tensions are intensifying global fragility and worsening Nigeria’s already complex security challenges.
He made this assertion on Thursday, July 24, 2025, while delivering a thought-provoking public lecture at the University of Ibadan titled: “Global Fragility and Security Management in Nigeria.”
According to a statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the event attracted a distinguished audience including scholars, students, civil society actors, members of the Armed Forces, and policy experts.
General Musa traced Nigeria’s current security complexities to wider global disruptions, noting that instability in regions such as Libya and the Sahel has led to the unchecked spread of arms and extremist ideologies, now fueling terrorism and banditry within Nigeria.
“The world today is more interconnected than ever, and fragility in one region has immediate consequences in others,” he said.
He also highlighted the environmental dimension of Nigeria’s security crisis, particularly the shrinking Lake Chad Basin, which has displaced millions and intensified competition for land and resources in border communities.
General Musa further warned about emerging non-traditional threats, including foreign-backed cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and the ripple effects of global economic shocks—such as the war in Ukraine—that have exacerbated inflation and food insecurity.
In outlining Nigeria’s response, the CDS emphasized the country’s evolving security architecture anchored on a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society Approach, as espoused in the National Defence Policy. Key strategies include:
Leveraging emerging technologies like UAVs and Artificial Intelligence for intelligence-led operations.
Strengthening regional collaborations through ECOWAS and the Multinational Joint Task Force.
Establishing cyber commands to confront digital threats.
Promoting community-led security initiatives via traditional institutions and civil society.
However, General Musa acknowledged that significant hurdles remain, such as porous borders, weak governance in rural areas, and the influx of illicit arms. He also cited external pressures like conditional arms deals and foreign disinformation as threats to national stability.
To build long-term resilience, he proposed four strategic pillars:
Strengthening Institutions – notably the justice system, security forces, and democratic frameworks.
Economic Empowerment – focusing on youth development, agriculture, and entrepreneurship.
Building Community Resilience – fostering trust, early warning systems, and grassroots intelligence-sharing.
Enhancing Global Partnerships – deepening intelligence cooperation and aligning with global best practices.
The CDS challenged Nigerian academic institutions, especially the University of Ibadan, to rise to the occasion by driving research, national orientation, and innovative approaches to security management.
“The University of Ibadan, as a centre of intellectual leadership, must continue to contribute to the national security discourse through research, dialogue, and mentorship of future leaders,” he urged.
He concluded by reaffirming the Armed Forces’ loyalty to safeguarding the nation and expressed readiness to work with all relevant agencies under the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to overcome the country’s security challenges.
“Security is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, opportunity, and hope,” General Musa stressed.
The lecture, chaired by former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (represented by Lt. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun), was well-received. Dignitaries in attendance included the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale; GOC 2 Division, Maj. Gen. OG Onubogu; and several senior military officers, both serving and retired.
Highlight of the event was the conferment of a Fellowship on General Musa by the TETFund Centre of Excellence in Security Management, in recognition of his strategic insights and commitment to national defence.
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