Nigeria’s internal and external security institutions can no longer operate as separate systems if the country is to defeat terrorism, banditry and cross-border crime, the Honourable Minister of Defence, Retired General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has warned.
Zig Diaries | Security
Date: Saturday, 17 January 2026
Time: 22:20 WAT
Location: 📍 Abuja, Nigeria
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Interior in Abuja, Retired General Musa said Nigeria’s security environment has evolved beyond traditional divisions between internal policing and military defence, making deep institutional synergy a national necessity rather than a policy option.
According to the Defence Minister, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and internal security agencies now confront a shared battlespace where intelligence fusion, border control and coordinated response determine national stability and development.
“Without security, sustainable national development cannot be achieved,” he stated, describing the Ministries of Defence and Interior as two sides of the same coin in the fight against contemporary security threats.
Retired General Musa stressed that no single institution can effectively address Nigeria’s complex security challenges in isolation. He said success now depends on seamless collaboration, intelligence sharing, joint operations and coordinated responses involving the Armed Forces, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Correctional Service and other security agencies.
He disclosed that ongoing efforts are focused on strengthening border management, protecting critical national assets and infrastructure, and institutionalising structured cooperation through inter-ministerial and inter-agency frameworks.
The Defence Minister added that enhanced capacity building, joint training and the deployment of technology for real-time situational awareness remain key priorities, assuring Nigerians that the Defence establishment will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Interior and other stakeholders to build a stronger, unified and responsive national security architecture.
Responding, the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, affirmed that national security is inseparable, noting that internal security effectiveness directly shapes military success.
“Our national security architecture stands on a tripod of intelligence, internal security and the military, intelligence is key,” he said.
Dr Tunji-Ojo described the Ministries of Defence and Interior as Siamese twins, stressing that effective border management remains central to national peace, stability and survival. He warned that no country can guarantee the safety of its citizens without securing its borders.
He congratulated Retired General Christopher Musa on his appointment as Minister of Defence and pledged sustained cooperation between both ministries to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
The visit underscored a growing policy shift towards integrated security management, reflecting the Federal Government’s recognition that modern threats demand unified command, shared intelligence and coordinated action across all security institutions.
🏷️ Tags: Defence Ministry, Ministry of Interior, National Security, Border Management, Armed Forces of Nigeria, Internal Security
#NigeriaSecurity #DefenceInterior #ArmedForcesNigeria #NationalSecurity #BorderSecurity
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