Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has appealed to Nigerians to see the country’s security challenges as a shared burden, stressing that both citizens and security personnel are victims of the violence confronting the nation.
Speaking at a programme organised by The Platform Nigeria to mark the June 12 Democracy Day celebration, the Defence Minister said security challenges would continue to evolve, requiring constant adaptation and collaboration among all stakeholders.
“One lesson experience teaches is that security improvement rarely occurs in a straight line. There will always be challenges. Criminal networks adapt. Extremist groups regenerate. New threats emerge even when old threats are degraded. This is why security should be viewed not as a destination but as a continuous process of adaptation,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria must move beyond preserving existing gains and focus on staying ahead of emerging threats.
“The challenge before us is not merely to sustain gains. The challenge is to outpace the evolution of these threats. If threats are evolving, our response must evolve even faster,” Musa stated.
He said the future of national security would increasingly depend on technology, noting that countries that adapt quickly would enjoy strategic advantages.
“Let us now examine the future of security in the age of technology. As we look ahead, one reality is becoming increasingly clear. The future of security will be shaped as much by technology as by traditional military power.
“Artificial intelligence is transforming decision-making. Drones are changing surveillance and operational effectiveness. Cyber capabilities are becoming central to national security.
“We must build our cyberspace, the capacity to defend and protect our own cyberspace. Information operations increasingly influence public perception and national cohesion. The nations that adapt fastest will possess significant advantage.”
The minister said Nigeria’s security environment requires innovative approaches that complement conventional military capabilities, urging investment in local talent and research.
“Nigeria faces an increasingly complex security environment requiring innovative approaches that complement conventional defence and security capabilities. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity. We must invest in indigenous innovation, strengthen defence research and development, as well as harness the talents of our universities, indeed, the youths, and the future of this country.
“And we must do everything to protect them, to ensure that they have that space to be able to project the God-given talents they have. Engineer, scientists and innovators are all over the country, freely operating, and all this must be harnessed together in order to build the compact power of a nation.”
While acknowledging the growing role of technology, Musa said national unity and public trust remain indispensable.
“The future soldier will increasingly be supported by technology, data, and advanced systems, but technology alone will not secure a nation.
“Even the most advanced systems cannot replace trust, unity, and national purpose. Ultimately, security proceeds when citizens and institutions work together. And this is what we want to appeal to: that we must work together.”
He urged Nigerians to support members of the armed forces, recounting his experiences as a theatre commander and the emotional toll of informing families about the deaths and injuries of soldiers.
“The security forces are not the enemies of the state. In fact, what I always say is that we are all victims. As a commander, I had the privilege of being the commander in the theatre Operation for 19 months.
“And the worst thing that could ever happen to you is having to meet the families of those who have passed on, who were killed, to explain to them what happened to their children, to their wards, or to see those ones that have been amputated because the vehicles they were riding went through IEDs, which has taken the limbs. Some, you see them eyes taken, arms taken, and all this. And these are family members.”
Musa appealed for continued public support for security personnel, saying collective action remains critical to overcoming insecurity.
“So, I want to appeal to Nigerians that as long as these individuals are sacrificing themselves, we have a country to protect. We must honour them. We must support them.
“We must give them everything that will keep them going. And together, with the support of the citizens, so much can be achieved. And I can assure you that.”
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