The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has raised concerns over the volatility and uncertainty of the global security environment.
The Defence Chief revealed this on Thursday while delivering his remarks at the opening of the 13th National Security Seminar organised by the Alumni Association of the Nigeria Defence College (AANDEC) in Abuja.
Gen. Musa who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations, Maj. Gen. Emeka Onumajuru said that the survival of any country depends largely on its ability to confront any security threats.
The CDS noted the increased volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity of the global security environment in recent times, which requires more resilience and a dynamic approach to address.
He also pointed out the negative impacts Nigerian citizens have endured socially, economically and otherwise due to the security challenges the country has dealt with over the years.
Some of the security challenges mentioned by the Chief of Defence include terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, transnational crimes and other social vices.
According to him, “The novelty and dynamic nature of these underpins the requirement for a comprehensive approach to address them.
“A comprehensive approach begins with collaboration among stakeholders to enable us to effectively address continuously evolving threats with our country.
“As such, Efforts of all forms will be required to address these challenges appropriately.
“It is also important to mention that the Armed Forces of Nigeria consider it a priority to secure the territorial integrity of our country by land, sea, and air”.
The CDS said measures would continue to be put in to ensure peace and security in the country.
He added, “Despite the efforts of the military so far, the security challenges between our borders persist.
“This means that notwithstanding the successes already achieved in various sectors of operation, there is still much to be done.
“Equally, the Armed Forces of Nigeria has come to appreciate that owing to the complex and unique nature of security threats in contemporary times, there is a need for all stakeholders to work together.
“This is because no single service or agency can effectively address this threat alone.
“Moreover, these security challenges have become increasingly diverse and unconventional, thus the need for a forum where we will collectively resolve to provide valuable insights and perspectives.”
Gen. Musa expressed confidence that the seminar would yield good results since the forum is aimed at promoting social, intellectual and professional interaction on security issues towards enhancing the security of the country.
“The expectation is that our collective discussions will generate a common understanding of pressing security challenges and enable the exploration of innovative solutions to ensure a safe, and prosperous future for all Nigerians.” He added.
