Boosting Youth Inclusivity ‘ll Curb Security Threats – Defence Chief
The Chief of Defence Staf(CDS), General Christopher Musa, has stressed the importance of youth inclusivity and collaboration in tackling Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
General Musa acknowledged the unwavering commitment of the Nigerian Armed Forces but stressed that traditional security approaches alone are insufficient.
Musa spoke at the National Security Summit organised by Green Assembly Initiative in partnership with Nigeria youth Organisations, in Abuja with the theme: Curbing Insecurity in Nigeria, Achieving a robust and sustainable economy for new Nigeria, Youths exclusivity in Nation Building.
Musa who was represented by Chief of Defence Policy and Plans, AVM Abraham Adole, called for active involvement from all stakeholders, including government institutions, security agencies, youth and the broader community.
According to him, “Despite the complexities and volatility of the global security landscape, Nigeria has unfortunately been grappling with multifaceted security issues that have cast a shadow on our economic growth.
“Collaboration among stakeholders is actively pursued in our approach, as it is imperative to forge synergy and curb insecurity in Nigeria.
“The Nigerian Armed Forces, unwavering in their commitment to protecting territorial integrity, recognize the need for a broader approach. While their efforts have been unwavering, the persistence of security challenges necessitates the realization that traditional civil service or agency structures alone cannot adequately address the current, dynamic nature of these threats.
“These contemporary security challenges have become more diffuse, unconventional, and asymmetric, necessitating a paradigm shift. Therefore, we are moving from individual agency strategies and intelligence gathering towards a collective multi-agency approach.
“This approach involves engaging with diverse stakeholders, leveraging the unique strengths and expertise of different security agencies, as their statutory roles are designed to be complementary”.
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The CDS highlighted the dynamic and multifaceted nature of security threats, including terrorism, kidnapping, militancy, and transnational crimes.
He emphasized the crucial role of collaboration in developing effective strategies and leveraging combined resources to address these challenges.
General Musa specifically addressed the importance of community engagement.
He encouraged youth to contribute by sharing information, reporting suspicious activities, and participating in security initiatives. He emphasized that their unique perspectives and experiences are essential in creating a safer and more secure society.
In his welcome, the Convener, Comrade Alamboye Duke, noted that as Nigeria faces these security challenges, this group has gathered approximately 774,000 young volunteers across all Local Governments in Nigeria.
These volunteers will be deployed to various security ministries to assist security agencies with intelligence gathering related to security threats, cybercrime, and terrorism.
His words, “As a matter of urgency, the federal government (FG) and state governments should start incorporating youth into security decision-making processes to foster a unified approach against national insecurity. These challenges cannot be fully resolved without actively involving young people.
“We are assembling approximately 774,000 volunteers from various backgrounds who will be deployed to ministries to assist security agencies with intelligence gathering related to security threats, cybercrime, and terrorism.
“These volunteers will undergo training provided by security agencies to equip them with the necessary skills to effectively contribute to the national security effort.
This initiative will not only positively engage a large number of Nigerian youths but also contribute to reducing the unemployment rate. However, strengthening our institutions and ensuring transparency across all government systems remains crucial for long-term success.
He added that while recognizing the existing manpower shortage within security agencies. This volunteer initiative can act as an additional contribution by citizens to enhance the overall security management of Nigeria.
By PRNigeria
