Chief of Army Staff Calls for Collaborative Approach to Tackle Nigeria's Security Challenges

Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, has emphasized that no single organization can solve Nigeria's current security challenges alone. Lagbaja made this statement on Friday during the inaugural strategic personality lecture at the Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies (IPSS), University of Ibadan.

Speaking on the topic, "Combating an Adversary Without Boundaries: The Need to Implement a Whole of Society Approach to Nigeria's National Security," Lagbaja stressed that addressing unemployment and poverty is crucial to preventing long-term instability and insecurity in Nigeria. He explained, through the General Officer Commanding 2-Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Obinna Onubogu, that the country's security issues are largely due to these socio-economic factors.

“Young people without jobs and living in poverty are more susceptible to recruitment by violent non-state actors and criminals,” Lagbaja noted, highlighting the urgent need for a comprehensive strategy.

Lagbaja called for increased collaboration among various security agencies, stating that agency synergy is essential for successful counterinsurgency operations. “The operating environment has evolved to a point where no single service or agency can effectively and independently tackle the threats to national security,” he said.

He added, “It is crucial that synergy is developed with other security agencies in implementing a whole of society approach to threats. Communication, cooperation, and collaboration among MDAs have been major topics of discussion. Although there has been some improvement, much more still needs to be done.”

Lagbaja emphasized that collaboration, communication, and cooperation are critical for planning, sharing intelligence, and the effective execution of all operations. “Where synergy is lacking among security agencies, there can never be a coordinated approach to the prevailing security challenge,” he concluded.