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| Photo credit — Christopher Musa |
Nigeria is intensifying efforts to build stronger international partnerships against terrorism, banditry, oil theft, cybercrime, and other evolving security threats. Defence Minister retired General Christopher Musa made the appeal on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, highlighting that the country’s security problems have grown too interconnected for any single nation or institution to solve alone.
Musa emphasized a collaborative approach involving the Nigerian government, local communities, international partners, and the private sector. He noted that while military and security operations remain essential to protect citizens and defend territorial integrity, lasting peace and stability cannot come from force alone. Practical partnerships are being sought with the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, bilateral partners, civil society organizations, researchers, and private-sector players to strengthen Nigeria’s security institutions and capabilities.
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Domestic measures underway
Alongside the diplomatic push, the Federal Government is advancing several concrete steps:
• Recruitment of 22,000 additional security personnel
• Restructuring of Army divisions
• Stronger subnational security arrangements
• Proposals for state police and dedicated forest guards
These initiatives aim to improve coverage in rural and forested areas often used by criminal groups, while addressing capacity shortages in existing forces.
Shift to a threat-driven strategy
Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, retired Major-General Adeyinka Famadewa, outlined a strategic change: moving from a capability-driven model to a threat-driven one. This means first identifying Nigeria’s major security threats, assessing capability gaps, and then prioritizing resources accordingly. The government is developing a five-year framework for acquiring critical security capabilities and boosting domestic defence production. Greater local manufacturing could reduce reliance on imports, improve response times, and support long-term sustainability.
Why international partnerships matter
Nigeria’s security challenges have national impact, regional consequences (especially across the Sahel), and growing international dimensions through transnational crime and terrorism networks.
Cooperation can bring intelligence sharing, technical assistance, training, equipment support, and coordinated efforts against cross-border threats such as arms trafficking and financing of violent groups. At the same time, Musa and others have stressed the importance of African ownership and funding of regional mechanisms so that external support complements rather than replaces local responsibility.
Looking ahead
Success will depend on effective implementation of both domestic reforms and external partnerships. Questions remain about timelines for state police and forest guards, funding for the additional personnel and five-year capability plan, coordination between federal and state levels, and measurable outcomes against terrorism and banditry. Stronger community involvement and private-sector participation could also help address root causes linked to governance, economic opportunity, and social cohesion.
Nigeria’s call at the UNGA reflects recognition that modern security threats require collective action. How these partnerships and internal reforms translate into improved safety on the ground will be the real test in the coming years.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers News, Sports, Finance, Faiths, Education, Technology.
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