The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has raised alarm over the worsening security threats facing Nigeria, revealing that the country accounts for an estimated 40 percent of the over 500 million illicit small arms and light weapons circulating across West Africa.
Musa made this revelation on Thursday while delivering a keynote lecture at the second Distinguished Personality Lecture Series hosted by the TETFund Centre of Excellence in Security Management (TECESM) at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, Oyo State.
Speaking on the theme “Global Fragility and Security Management in Nigeria,” the Defence Chief painted a sobering picture of Nigeria’s vulnerability to both internal and transnational security threats, urging a national overhaul of security architecture in response to growing instability in the region.
“Fragile states are no longer distant concerns,” he said. “They pose a direct and immediate threat to regional and global peace—and Nigeria is not insulated.”
He identified the smuggling of arms from conflict zones in the Sahel and North Africa as a key driver of violence in Nigeria’s northern regions, empowering terrorist groups, bandits, and ethnic militias.
Beyond the arms crisis, Musa also pointed to several other pressure points threatening Nigeria’s stability: economic shocks, porous borders, cyber threats, environmental degradation, and the weaponization of digital platforms to incite ethnic and religious tensions.
“Today’s threats go beyond bullets and bombs. Facebook, WhatsApp, and other digital platforms are now being used to radicalise youth, spread fake news, and erode public trust,” he warned.
He called for urgent, multi-dimensional interventions to tackle these evolving threats:
Full implementation of Nigeria’s National Defence Policy through a multi-agency approach to security.
Modernisation of border management using fencing and surveillance technologies.
Strategic alliances with neighbouring countries to curb arms trafficking and insurgent movements.
Youth-focused investments in education, agriculture, and entrepreneurship to address root causes of unrest.
READ ALSO: CDS Musa Backs Community Self-Defence Against Benue Killings
Reforms that strengthen civil institutions and promote national cohesion through inclusive dialogue.
“Security now requires innovation, resilience, and unity. It’s not just about boots on the ground—it’s about empowered communities and sustainable development,” Musa said.
The event was chaired by former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd), represented by Lt. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun (retd), who reinforced the call for community-based intelligence gathering and early warning systems.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, praised the lecture as a rare fusion of academic depth and operational insight, noting that such engagements could help craft evidence-based solutions to Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
Director of TECESM, Dr. Benjamin Aluko, described General Musa’s lecture as a milestone moment for the centre.
“This visit has not only enriched our academic lens but also created real-world entry points for future security research and policy direction,” he said.
The high-profile event drew academics, security experts, government representatives, and students, all united by a common concern: the urgent need to rethink and retool Nigeria’s response to a rapidly evolving security landscape.