Fight Hunger, Not Just Terror: CDS Warns At National Security Seminar

Amid Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with insurgency, banditry, and communal unrest, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has issued a stern warning that the root causes of these security threats go beyond armed conflict, they are deeply tied to hunger and poverty.

Speaking on Monday, June 23, 2025, at the 14th National Security Seminarheld in Abuja, General Musa, who was represented by the Chief of Defence Training, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shetimma, declared that no amount of military firepower can fully secure the nation unless the socioeconomic conditions that breed discontent are effectively addressed.

The high-level seminar, organized by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC), convened military strategists, security experts, policymakers, and development stakeholders to dissect the evolving nature of Nigeria’s national security challenges. The theme of the seminar underscored a growing consensus: that national security is not only about guns and intelligence, but also about food, jobs, and hope.

General Musa pointed out that the military remains committed to its constitutional role in protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria. However, he warned that “strategic firepower cannot neutralize the desperation of a hungry man.”

“If we do not address hunger and poverty with the same urgency we allocate to counter-terror operations, we will continue to fight symptoms rather than the disease,” he said.

He called on citizens to work hand-in-hand with security agencies by promptly reporting suspicious activities within their communities and remaining vigilant. “Security is a shared responsibility,” he noted. “No agency can be everywhere at once, but with citizen cooperation, threats can be detected and averted before they escalate.”

Rear Admiral Shetimma echoed the CDS’s position, adding that achieving national security in Nigeria requires a multi-sectoral approach involving agriculture, education, healthcare, and economic empowerment.

Participants at the seminar agreed that a secured Nigeria must be built on the foundation of inclusive development, proactive intelligence-sharing, and accountable governance. The event ended with calls for inter-agency collaboration, policy reforms, and renewed investment in human capital as cornerstones of any sustainable security strategy.

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By Folake Sokoya