The Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, has urged security and intelligence agencies to end isolated operations and embrace a more coordinated approach to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
He made the call on Thursday in Abuja during a meeting with members of the intelligence community, emphasising that effective intelligence gathering and sharing are vital to supporting troops, especially in asymmetric warfare where threats can arise from both internal and external sources.
Musa acknowledged that while security agencies have recorded successes in their operations, their efforts are often disjointed, limiting overall effectiveness.
“We all know the importance of intelligence, particularly in asymmetric warfare, where threats come both from within and outside our borders.
What we have observed is that, while we have been operating effectively, much of our work has been in silos. It is high time we integrate these efforts so that all actions are coordinated and impactful,” Musa said.
He further revealed that the President has directed greater collaboration among all security outfits, stressing the importance of unity in strengthening national security.
“Jointness means every service and agency is important; none is irrelevant. Intelligence—whether human or technical—must be harnessed collectively to provide better leverage,” he stated.
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According to the minister, the meeting was convened to enhance cooperation among agencies, improve collective capacity, and ensure that intelligence gathered is effectively utilised during operations.
“Asymmetric warfare is largely a warfare of intelligence. Without intelligence, we operate blindly. Unlike conventional warfare, threats are often unidentified, and even those close to us may be potential adversaries,” he said.
Musa also appealed to citizens to support security agencies by providing timely and credible information, noting that stronger human intelligence would significantly improve operational outcomes.
“We must explore all means to enhance human intelligence and ensure that Nigerians understand their role in promptly providing relevant information so that timely action can be taken.
This will strengthen our national security and operational effectiveness, ” Musa said.
He assured that the Ministry of Defence would continue to back intelligence agencies and promote improved coordination to boost the effectiveness of troops in the field.
Nigeria continues to face multiple security challenges, including insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping, with authorities increasingly prioritising intelligence sharing and joint operations as key strategies to improve response and overall effectiveness.