Former Chief of Defence Staff and Co-Chairman of the First Daily National Dialogue on Security, General Martin Luther Agwai (rtd.), has warned that Nigeria’s security challenges have moved beyond conventional military threats, stressing that the fight against insecurity requires a collective national response.
Agwai made the remarks on Tuesday at the First Daily National Dialogue on Security, organised as part of activities marking First Daily Media Network’s sixth anniversary, in Abuja.
The retired four-star general said Nigeria’s security environment has changed significantly from the period when the country’s major concerns were external aggression and conventional warfare, noting that present-day threats are largely driven by internal challenges, including kidnapping, banditry, cybercrime, oil theft, attacks on farmers and other criminal activities.
“The threat is no longer just external as it was when I joined the army in 1970 after the civil war. Today, it is internal because of economic, human and digital challenges and crimes,” Agwai said.
Agwai’s remarks reflect the transformation of Nigeria’s security concerns over the decades, from post-civil war reconstruction and border-related threats to the emergence of complex internal crises.
The country’s security challenges have intensified in recent years, with the Boko Haram insurgency that began in the North-East, the expansion of banditry and mass kidnappings in parts of the North, as well as rising concerns over criminal networks operating across different regions.
The former defence chief argued that relying solely on the military and security agencies would not provide a lasting solution, urging greater involvement from government institutions, communities, the media and citizens.
“Security is the responsibility of the whole society, not the military or other security agencies alone,” he said.
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His position aligns with long-standing calls by security experts and former military leaders for a broader approach to national security that combines effective security operations with good governance, economic opportunities and public trust.
Agwai also stressed the connection between security and development, warning that instability affects education, healthcare, businesses and democratic progress.
“If there is no security, there can be no development, and if there is no development, there can be no security. Without safety and security, there can be no schools, no hospitals, no businesses and even the democracy we talk so much about,” he said.
He commended First Daily Media Network for convening the dialogue, describing it as an opportunity for stakeholders to share ideas and develop practical solutions to Nigeria’s security challenges rather than apportion blame.
The dialogue brings together government officials, security experts, policymakers, military officers, media professionals and other stakeholders to examine the country’s evolving security situation and possible solutions.