Regional collaborations remain crucial in addressing current and emerging security threats facing Nigeria.
The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, stated this while delivering a keynote address at the Chief of Defence Intelligence Annual Conference 2023, with the theme “Leveraging Defence Diplomacy and Effective Regional Collaboration for Enhanced National Security”.
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who was the special guest of honour at the event, said threats have become increasingly asymmetrical, and the activities of armed state actors have remained prevalent in the West African region, hence the need to make the distinction between threat boundaries and geopolitical boundaries.
The NSA pointed out that no single country can surmount today’s threats on its own. Therefore, all countries must rise to understand one another’s security challenges and peculiarities, and work together to achieve desired individual national objectives.
He commended the defence advisers and attachés for the quality of representation on behalf of Nigeria.
“The essence of defence diplomacy is clear, specifically the role of the defence advisers and attachés systems in strategic engagements with allies at bilateral and multilateral levels to attain its own national security objectives,” said the national security adviser, who described the personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria as the reason Nigeria is still a nation, living in peace and stability. He attributed it their continuous sacrifices.
He used the opportunity to express profound appreciation to the Armed Forces on behalf of the government of Nigeria while applauding the solid team led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.
He further assured Nigerians that the security team leading Nigeria is a very solid one. And as the national security adviser, he can attest to the fact that they work as one.
Speaking earlier, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, admitted that the nation is confronted with multiple risks, and, therefore, a unilateral approach can not be the solution.
He recommended accelaration of regional and global collaboration to effectively protect the citizens accross the region:
“For any country’s defence strategy to succeed, it must recognize the critical role of dipolamcy in reducing military risk, as well as fostering shared understanding for enhanced national security.
“National security concerns have become increasingly complex in recent times, we are faced with terrorism, banditry Secessionist agitations, communinal clashes, farmers herders clashes, kidnappings and other sundry crimes.
“Interestingly, these challenges have saveral factors fueling them, such as proliferation of illicit small arms and lights weapons, encouraged and sustained by common borders.”
For his part, the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, said there was no better time to organize the conference to discuss ways of bettering national security through defence diplomacy and collaborations.
He said defence attachés play crucial roles in fostering bilateral relations and the nation’s quest to military industrialization, urging them to build strong relationships with host country’s defence establishment.
The Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, said the Defence Intelligence Agency is more intentional in its efforts to harnessing the capabilities of the Defence Advisers and Attachés system for the attainment of national security objectives.
“The current and emerging threats facing Nigeria are enormous, complex, interrelated, multifaceted and diverse in nature, with attendant security implication for our dear national security.
“These threats could be viewed from internal and external perspectives ranging from terrorism, agitations, armed banditry, kidnapping, herders- farmers clashes, cyber threats, and weaponization of the social media,” said the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI).
The Chief of Defence Intelligence Conference provides an avenue for participants to review progress made in the proceeding year, access current and emerging challenges, leverage past efforts and strategize on the future.
It is the agency’s major forum for goal-setting, policy adjustment and strategic development for the effective performance of the defence advisers and attachés, who are in the forefront of building a frame work of peace, and prosperity between Nigeria and their countries of accreditation.
The conference had in attendance other government functionaries, including the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana; Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff; Chief of Naval Staff; Chief of Air Staff; past service chiefs; retired General Lucky Irabor; Retired General Tukur Buratai; heads of security agencies, among others.
