Former Chief of Defence Staff and Co-Chairman of the First Daily National Dialogue on Security, General Martin Luther Agwai (rtd.), has said tackling insecurity in Nigeria requires a collective effort involving government, security agencies, the media and citizens.
Speaking on Tuesday at the First Daily 6th Annual National Public Lecture Series in Abuja, Agwai said the country’s security threats have evolved from external aggression to complex internal challenges driven by economic hardship, cybercrime, oil theft, kidnapping, attacks on farmers and natural disasters.
“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,” he said.
The retired four-star general noted that security and development are inseparable, stressing that without safety, there can be no meaningful democracy, education, healthcare or economic growth.
“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.”
READ ALSO: First Daily Publisher Honours Victims of Insecurity With Minute’s Silence
Agwai commended First Daily for creating a platform for constructive dialogue, describing the initiative as an opportunity to seek solutions rather than assign blame.
He emphasised the need for a well-equipped and motivated military, public trust, responsive governance and responsible journalism, adding that security is “the responsibility of the whole society, not the military or other security agencies alone.”
He also expressed confidence in the quality of discussions, citing the calibre of speakers assembled for the national dialogue.