🇳🇬 Nigeria Advances Whole-of-Society Security Strategy At UNGA 81 Side Event, Calls For Stronger International Partnerships

Nigeria has called for a comprehensive, partnership-based approach to addressing its evolving security challenges and those confronting the wider Sahel region, as the Federal Ministry of Defence convened a high-level side event on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week in New York.

Desk: Defence & Security
Date: 24 September 2026
Time: 17:16 WAT
Location: New York, USA

The event, themed “Confronting Nigeria’s Multidimensional Security Challenges: A Whole-of-Society and Partnership-Based Approach,” brought together diplomats, security practitioners and representatives of the United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS to examine Nigeria’s security environment and possible areas of stronger international cooperation.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd.), OFR, said Nigeria’s security challenges have national, regional and global implications, stressing that their multidimensional character requires collective action.

A statement issued on the Minister’s engagement and signed by Special Assistant to the Minister of Defence on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, said General Musa emphasised the importance of resilient communities, effective institutions, inclusive development and good governance in achieving sustainable security.

The Minister outlined measures being implemented under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, including the recruitment of an additional 22,000 personnel into the Armed Forces and the expansion and reorganisation of the Nigerian Army’s divisional structure.

He also highlighted ongoing efforts towards establishing state police and dedicated forest guard arrangements to strengthen security in rural and border communities, as well as presidential approval for a unified intelligence and reconnaissance programme aimed at eliminating operational silos, improving situational awareness and strengthening interoperability among Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

General Musa further highlighted efforts to strengthen domestic defence production through support for the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, DICON, as part of measures to build self-reliance and reduce dependence on external sources of military equipment.

He also cited the integration of advanced technologies, including drones for real-time surveillance and Improvised Explosive Device detection, alongside the rollout of a comprehensive national criminal database.

The Minister said Nigeria’s recognition that it cannot address the challenges alone should not be interpreted as dependence but as an acknowledgement of the complex nature of modern security threats and the need for collective action.

“Sustainable security requires resilient communities, effective institutions, inclusive development, and good governance.”

The panel discussion was moderated by Professor Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to the President and former Minister of External Affairs, who recalled Nigeria’s concentric-circles foreign policy and stressed the need for Africa to become an active contributor to global frameworks, particularly in the area of Artificial Intelligence.

On homeland security and early warning, Major General Adeyinka T. Famadewa (Rtd.), Special Adviser on Homeland Security, advocated intelligence fusion, integrated response capabilities and citizen-reporting protection systems to improve early identification of emerging threats.

Major General A.K. Ibrahim (Rtd.), former Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force, called for community-based border solutions, implementation of the Office of the National Security Adviser’s Border Management Strategy, revitalisation of the MNJTF and stronger action against terrorist taxation and financial networks.

The economic dimension of security was addressed by Dr Kingsley Obiora, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, who described economic stability as a core pillar of national security and proposed Colombia-inspired designated economic zones to support business recovery in conflict-affected areas.

Professor Mvemba Phezo Dizolele of Johns Hopkins University urged African countries to develop security solutions suited to their own circumstances rather than relying on external templates.

Cybersecurity expert Mr Omosigho Ozo-Eson also called for greater protection of Critical National Infrastructure, warning against excessive dependence on foreign Artificial Intelligence systems and stressing the need to develop indigenous cyber-defence capabilities.

In his closing remarks, General Musa reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to combating terrorism and banditry while commending defence cooperation with international partners, including the United States.

He noted that regional mechanisms such as the MNJTF have received support from international partners, including the European Union, but stressed the importance of African member states increasingly financing and sustaining their own security frameworks to strengthen regional ownership.

The Minister also highlighted government efforts to improve legal frameworks, protect vulnerable health workers operating in high-risk areas and create a stable business environment capable of attracting investment.

General Musa said the objective of the engagement should be to move beyond identifying security challenges towards concrete cooperation, defined responsibilities and practical next steps.

“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.”

Earlier, the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Bosede Olaniyi, welcomed participants and called for robust engagement that would translate into meaningful outcomes for national development.

🏷️ Tags: Nigeria Security Strategy, Christopher Musa, UNGA 81, Defence & Security, Whole-of-Society Security, International Partnerships

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