The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, has sounded the alarm over Nigeria’s increasing vulnerability to global insecurity, revealing that the country harbours 40 per cent of the over 500 million illegal small arms and light weapons circulating in West Africa.
Speaking in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday during a lecture titled “Global Fragility and Security Management in Nigeria,” the CDS warned that these arms, largely smuggled from conflict zones in the Sahel and North Africa, have fueled terrorism, banditry, and ethnic violence, particularly in Nigeria’s northern regions.
Gen Musa delivered the address at the second Distinguished Personality Lecture organised by the TETFund Centre of Excellence in Security Management at the University of Ibadan’s Trenchard Hall. He stressed that Nigeria’s security challenges are now deeply intertwined with global fragility trends.
“Over 500 million illicit small arms and light weapons are circulating in West Africa, and an estimated 40 per cent of these weapons end up in Nigeria,” he stated. “These weapons, often smuggled from conflict zones in the Sahel and North Africa, have empowered terrorists, bandits, and ethnic militias, escalating violence in Nigeria’s northern regions,” he added.
The CDS emphasized the urgent need for Nigeria to improve its security strategies in light of increasing global fragility. “Fragile states are no longer isolated issues. They pose a direct threat to regional and global peace, and Nigeria is not immune,” he warned.
He highlighted several external factors undermining Nigeria’s security, including the proliferation of arms, economic shocks, transnational terrorism, cyber threats, and environmental stressors. Musa attributed these challenges largely to porous borders and weak governance in remote regions.
“Nigeria’s vulnerabilities are not just internal; they’re being shaped by the global fragility matrix,” he noted. “We must respond with resilience, innovation, and collective will. No nation is an island in today’s security landscape.”
Gen Musa also expressed concern over the rising influence of disinformation and online radicalization. He observed that Nigeria faces hybrid threats beyond the battlefield, with digital platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp being weaponized to spread ethnic hatred and undermine public trust.
Policy Responses and Strategic Collaboration to Curb Arms Proliferation and Enhance Security
To address these complex challenges, the CDS advocated a series of policy actions. These include “a multi-agency approach to security management, as outlined in Nigeria’s National Defence Policy; enhanced border security, with the use of fencing, surveillance technology, and better-trained personnel.”
He also called for “greater collaboration with neighbouring countries and international partners to curb the movement of arms and terrorists,” as well as “investment in youth empowerment, education, agriculture, and entrepreneurship to address root causes of insecurity.” Additionally, he urged strengthening civil institutions and promoting dialogue to foster national unity and social cohesion.
According to Gen Musa, security is no longer just about guns and boots. “It’s about sustainable development, responsive governance, and empowered communities,” he concluded.
The Chairman of the event and former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai (retd.), represented by Lt Gen Lamidi Adeosun (retd.), echoed similar sentiments. He stressed, “Security management in Nigeria must evolve. This requires governance reforms, capacity building, and community-based intelligence systems to strengthen early warning mechanisms and deter threats before they escalate.”
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof Kayode Adebowale, described the lecture as a powerful blend of scholarship and field experience. “Today’s discussion bridges the gap between academic insight and practical security leadership. This is how we develop evidence-based solutions to Nigeria’s most pressing challenges,” he said.
Earlier, the Director of the TETFund Centre of Excellence in Security Management (TECESM), Benjamin Aluko, described the CDS’s presence as a landmark moment for the centre. “Your insights will not only enrich our academic programmes but also provide real-world strategies that we can explore through research,” he remarked.
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