With terrorism, banditry and transnational crime threatening Nigeria, the necessity for enduring worldwide partnerships and regional cooperation to confront such evolving safety threats has by no means been extra urgent. At a facet assembly throughout the just-concluded 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the crucial for ECOWAS, the African Union (AU), neighbouring nations and international companions to work collectively was highlighted, whereas safety specialists advocated intelligence sharing, group participation and financial restoration. Chiemelie Ezeobi, who participated, experiences
In the Sahel, the place insecurity crosses nationwide boundaries, political divisions amongst nations going through widespread threats current an extra problem to efforts to revive stability.
For Nigeria, whose safety considerations are linked to developments throughout West Africa, tackling terrorism and banditry requires not solely stronger home safety establishments but in addition renewed cooperation amongst neighbouring nations, regional organisations and worldwide companions.
Sahel Disunity and the Need for Cooperation
Undoubtedly, the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), efficient January 29, 2025, following army coups within the three nations, has sophisticated regional relations.
The political divisions following the coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger reinforce the significance of preserving safety cooperation open throughout West Africa.
Although the three nations have left ECOWAS, their combat in opposition to armed teams stays linked to the safety of their neighbours.
For Nigeria, the precedence is to make sure that diplomatic variations don’t forestall intelligence sharing, border coordination and sensible cooperation in opposition to terrorism.
Confronting Nigeria’s Multi-dimensional Security Challenges
It was in opposition to this backdrop that Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence convened a high-level facet occasion throughout the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) High-Level Week in New York.
The central message of the assembly, themed “Confronting Nigeria’s Multidimensional Security Challenges: A Whole-of-Society and Partnership-Based Approach,” was that no nation or establishment can independently resolve the area’s safety challenges.
Nigeria’s response, due to this fact, should mix army operations with intelligence cooperation, efficient governance, group participation, financial growth and enduring regional and worldwide partnerships.
These and plenty of different points had been deliberated on by the panel, moderated by Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Gambari, recalling Nigeria’s concentric-circles overseas coverage, confused the necessity for Africa to contribute actively to international frameworks, notably in synthetic intelligence.
Sustainable Security Requires Collective Action
As the convener, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), OFR, stated Nigeria’s safety challenges had nationwide, regional and worldwide implications, making cooperation important.
“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 stated.
Musa recognized terrorism, banditry, cyber threats, oil theft and organised prison actions among the many nation’s safety considerations, whereas highlighting porous borders, governance challenges, socioeconomic vulnerabilities, ethnic and non secular tensions, and political and social divisions as components that compound insecurity.
“These challenges do not exist in isolation. They interact with, reinforce, and at times amplify one another, exploiting many of the same vulnerabilities. Our response must therefore be equally interconnected and comprehensive,” he stated.
While acknowledging the significance of army operations, the minister confused that lasting peace required greater than power, including that “while military and other security operations remain essential to protecting our citizens and territorial integrity, we recognise that lasting peace and stability cannot be achieved through military action alone. Sustainable security requires resilient communities, effective institutions, inclusive development, and good governance”.
He known as for stronger coordination amongst federal, state and native establishments, alongside engagement with conventional and non secular leaders, civil society, group organisations and the personal sector.
“Our objective must be to evolve from a system that primarily reacts to insecurity towards one that is increasingly capable of anticipating threats, preventing violence, addressing underlying vulnerabilities, and building lasting societal resilience,” he stated.
Musa outlined measures underneath President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, together with recruiting an extra 22,000 Armed Forces personnel, reorganising the Nigerian Army’s divisional construction and pursuing state police and forest guard preparations.
Other initiatives embody unified intelligence and reconnaissance, the deployment of drones for surveillance and improvised explosive system detection, a nationwide prison database and help for the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to strengthen home defence manufacturing.
However, he insisted that worldwide partnerships should handle particular wants and produce measurable outcomes.
“How can we build partnerships that are sustainable, enduring and responsive to evolving threats?” he requested, including that companions ought to establish how they may help Nigeria’s most urgent functionality and institutional necessities.
“Our objective today should be straightforward. 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.”
Reinforced Need for Shared Responsibility
In an interview with THISDAY, Major General Abdul Khalifa Ibrahim (Rtd), OFR, Special Adviser to the Minister of Defence on Regional Integration and Multinational Security Cooperation and former Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), bolstered the necessity for shared duty.
He stated many individuals wrongly regarded the army as solely accountable for addressing insecurity, regardless of the contributions required from different establishments and society.
According to him, the kinetic element of safety operations may account for under 25 to 30 per cent of the general effort, whereas the remaining 70 per cent should come from different companions, together with civil society, abnormal residents and worldwide companions.
He advocated community-based border options, implementation of the Office of the National Security Adviser’s Border Management Strategy, revitalisation of the MNJTF and stronger efforts to disrupt terrorist taxation and monetary networks.
His place underscored the significance of regional cooperation, notably the place armed teams and prison networks function throughout borders.
Thus, renewed coordination amongst Nigeria, neighbouring nations, ECOWAS, the AU and worldwide companions could be vital in sustaining safety operations and addressing threats all through the Sahel.
When Intelligence Must Guide Security Priorities
For his half, Major General Adeyinka T. Famadewa (Rtd), Special Adviser on Homeland Security, advocated intelligence fusion, built-in response capabilities and programs that shield residents who report safety threats.
Famadewa acknowledged the difficulties of attaining safety targets however stated Nigeria was shifting in the proper path by reviewing previous approaches and exploring new strategies.
In an interview with THISDAY afterwards, he mentioned the National Threat Assessment commissioned by the President, saying it was not one other National Security Strategy doc however relatively an train that will transfer Nigeria from a capability-driven method to 1 primarily based on recognized threats.
The evaluation would decide the threats confronting the nation, the measures required to mitigate them and the priorities for deploying restricted assets.
Famadewa stated the train would establish functionality gaps and set up handle them over 5 years, whereas creating home defence manufacturing.
He additionally urged residents to take part in securing the nation. “See something, say something,” he stated, including that each Nigerian was a sensor and that they need to anticipate “A better Nigeria.”
Economic Recovery and African Solutions
Still throughout the panel session, Dr. Kingsley Obiora, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, recognized financial stability as a core pillar of nationwide safety. He proposed designated financial zones impressed by Colombia to stimulate enterprise restoration in conflict-affected areas.
Prof. Mvemba Phezo Dizolele of Johns Hopkins University cautioned in opposition to adopting exterior safety templates, urging African nations to develop options suited to their very own circumstances and designed for native populations.
Meanwhile, cybersecurity skilled Omosigho Ozo-Eson warned in opposition to over-reliance on overseas synthetic intelligence programs and known as for stronger safety of crucial nationwide infrastructure and indigenous cyber defence capabilities.
How Partnerships Can Deliver Lasting Security
In his closing remarks, General Musa reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to confronting terrorism and banditry, commending defence cooperation with companions, together with the United States.
He acknowledged worldwide help for regional mechanisms such because the MNJTF, together with help from the European Union, however confused that African member states should more and more finance and maintain their very own safety frameworks.
He additionally highlighted efforts to enhance authorized frameworks, shield weak well being staff in high-risk areas and create a secure enterprise setting that draws funding.
Ultimately, the problem for Nigeria and the broader Sahel is to show safety commitments into sensible cooperation. Stronger intelligence trade, coordinated border administration, disruption of terrorist financing, group participation and financial restoration should complement army operations.
As Musa emphasised, Nigeria is ready to do its half. But enduring safety will rely upon whether or not nationwide establishments, ECOWAS, the AU, Sahelian nations and international companions can work collectively regardless of political variations, recognising that insecurity in a single a part of the area can have penalties for others.
This is as a result of ECOWAS and the AU, working with worldwide companions and Sahelian governments, have vital roles to play in encouraging dialogue and supporting collective responses to widespread threats.
