Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has warned that poverty and hunger have escalated beyond social issues, now posing serious threats to Nigeria’s national security.
Speaking at the opening of the 14th National Security Seminar in Abuja yesterday, Gen. Musa, represented by the Chief of Defence Training, Rear-Admiral Ibrahim Shettima, stressed that insecurity in the modern world is no longer solely defined by armed conflict, but also by widespread economic hardship, food insecurity, and social dislocation.
The seminar, themed: “Combating Hunger and Poverty for Sustainable Peace and Development in Nigeria”, was organised by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC), in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser, (ONSA).
National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribaɗu, said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is actively working to break the cycle of poverty and insecurity through key initiatives such as agricultural reforms, expanded social investment programmes, and targeted security interventions.
Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru, on his part, echoed the need for a people-centred approach to security. He called for targeted solutions that address the root causes of insecurity, including unemployment, poverty, and social exclusion.
Badaru emphasised the need for collective action, noting that Nigeria’s security challenges transcend borders and require broad collaboration.
The speakers unanimously agreed on the urgent need for a coordinated national response to economic hardship, warning that without deliberate intervention, hunger and poverty could continue to fuel unrest and weaken the country’s social fabric.
Musa noted that the disruption of farming communities and illegal occupation of farmlands contributed to food inflation, displacement, and mass migration, thereby destabilising both the economy and national cohesion. He called on communities to deny criminals and terrorists sanctuary by supporting intelligence gathering, timely reporting, and community vigilance.
The CDS also called for urgent investment in grassroots agricultural development, and urged the Government as well as stakeholders to reposition farming as a noble and rewarding profession by enhancing access to credit, infrastructure, and market linkages.
Musa also praised President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, particularly its emphasis on financial autonomy for local government councils, which he described as vital for responsive and community-driven development.
Represented by the Director of Defence Affairs at ONSA, Maj.-Gen. Peter Mala, Ribaɗu said that national security is a collective responsibility that demands a multidimensional and collaborative approach.
